Member Article

Wavin leads industry charge towards net zero construction

Leading plumbing and drainage manufacturer Wavin has joined the latest cohort of the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) net zero carbon programme, which is part of the council’s CO2nstruct Zero initiative. The involvement is part of Wavin being awarded the status of ‘Industry Business Champion’ and brings together industry-leading manufacturers, contractors and consultants who are committed to uniting the sector to meet the government’s ambitious targets. Wavin’s participation follows the introduction of a number of new sustainability initiatives across the business which build on its work to date in this area.

By becoming part of the industry-wide programme, Wavin will work with other companies in the sector as well as share evidence of its net zero carbon initiatives, in accordance with the CO2nstruct Zero reporting process set by the CLC. Wavin has already pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and has also set a clear target to be the industry leader in sustainability by 2025.

Significant investments are being made across the business alongside strategic supply chain improvements. Renewable energy now powers all four main production sites in the UK. Solar panels and LED lighting are about to be installed at the main Chippenham site to further boost the clean energy drive. In terms of transport, the delivery of over 100 fully electric fleet cars is also underway across Wavin, and 40 per cent of its forklift fleet is already using more eco-friendly Bio LPG fuel. The manufacturer is also exploring how to reduce emissions across the full lifecycle of its products – from the way they are made, to how they’re installed. Wavin’s Recycore range is already composed of 50 per cent recycled material, and the Aquacell attenuation tanks are 100 per cent. Wavin is also focusing on minimum standards for product packaging too, with a goal of 30% being sourced from recycled material.

Mike Ward, Managing Director at Wavin UK, said: “We think of sustainability as a journey rather than a destination. We are fully committed to that journey, but recognise that it requires investment combined with action, challenge and change. The recent initiatives launched across our UK business are taking us one step closer to net zero carbon, by cultivating better building and logistical performance and helping us all be more environmentally-minded.”

A key part of Wavin’s sustainability efforts also comes from ensuring its partners are focused in their efforts to be more eco-minded. To ensure its supply chain is as transparent as possible, Wavin will be ensuring all suppliers follow the ‘Wavin Sustainable Suppliers Procedure’ and are REACH compliant.

Mike Ward added: “It’s vital for us to think about sustainability at every turn, so it’s a natural step for us to also make sure our trusted partners are on the same page when it comes to their own carbon footprint. We are truly in this together as a sector, and by ensuring we have an environmentally-focused supply chain, we can achieve industry-wide carbon net zero in-line with the targets.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Wavin .