Public sector to mandate Carbon Reduction Plans on all projects over £5 million

Public sector to mandate Carbon Reduction Plans on all projects over £5 million

In a week themed with a focus on Net Zero in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, new and stricter guidelines have been revealed to focus attention on Carbon Reduction in Central Government contracts.

From 30 September 2021, contractors bidding for Central Government contracts worth more than £5 million a year will be required to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan, which confirms their commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and sets out the environmental management measures they will have in place during the performance of the contract. Carbon Reduction Plans must be updated at least once a year and meet the standard set out in Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21, which includes a template that contractors can use.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

 

FIS and Supply Chain Sustainability School Collaborate to start Net Zero Journeys

FIS and Supply Chain Sustainability School Collaborate to start Net Zero Journeys

FIS and the Supply Chain Sustainability School are collaborating to help deliver Net Zero in the finishes and interiors sector through a new virtual training portal hosted on the Supply Chain Sustainability School website.

This sustainability training hub is another output of the FIS Sustainability Working Group, which has been established within the FIS community to support a focus on individual change, collective focus and supply chain engagement.  The working group has five core objectives:

  • Increasing knowledge and understanding within the supply chain
  • Setting targets and standardisation (including monitoring and measuring impact)
  • Providing an active network and encouraging collaboration
  • Highlighting individuals and approaches that help inspire and inform change
  • Informing design and encouraging better asset management

FIS Board Member Phil Brown from Meronden Ltd who has been supporting the FIS Sustainability Working Group said:

“In our supply chain there is a growing understanding, not only of our responsibilities, but also the potential of the sector to support change. Our Working Group really starts with a focus on helping individual businesses in the sector to take the first and identify the next step to being better in terms of sustainability.  In the true sense of sustainability there is absolutely no point in reinventing the wheel.  The collaboration with Supply Chain Sustainability School was quickly identified as a priority, the School has a amazing wealth of resource that can help educate and inform our supply chain and we just needed as a first stage to curate this and help set up some suggested learning pathways.  This launch is the first step, but we have ambitious plans together to develop the content and with it the understanding of sustainability through our supply chain.”

Graham Edgell of Morgan Sindall who is a Board Member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School added

“Collaboration is key to driving change.  The School exemplifies this with an open source approach that makes content, developed by experts, available to all.  It is great that we have teamed up with FIS, one of the more dynamic bodies in our sector and a key sector within construction to really help drive knowledge and capability on sustainability issues. With an improved understanding of the issues we can all individually and collectively help companies and the sector deliver more sustainable outcomes and play our part in the CLC CO2nstruct Zero programme and the national Net Zero effort”.

With construction accounting for 40% of UK carbon consumption, the construction industry is critical to supporting the UK Net Zero Effort.   The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Roadmap to Recovery has laid out proposals to secure the future of construction businesses nationwide, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery.    The goal of the strategy is to:

Improve design, product selection and manufacturing and construction processes to deliver built assets that achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases as part of the pathway towards net zero.

With the finishes and interiors sector estimated to be responsible for 40% of energy consumed by a building and an estimated 300 tonnes of fit-out materials going to landfill every day, FIS is working to rally the sector and, in addition to work with the Schoo,l has recently signed up as a partner organisation to support the delivery of the Co2nstruct Zero strategy.

You can view the Finishes and Interiors Sustainability Virtual Training here Finishes & Interiors | Supply Chain Sustainability School (supplychainschool.co.uk)

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here.

 

 

FIS Virtual Conference - A Path to Net Zero

Join us on 8 September at midday as we discuss the path to net zero.

In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050.  The Prime Minister has subsequently pledged that the UK will “Build Back Greener” with 2021 being the “defining year of climate action”.  But what does all this actually mean to projects in the finishes and interiors sector.

Our three keynote speakers will cover:

  • Net Zero and the impact on Design – Adam Strudwick, Principal, Corporate Interiors, London, Perkins&Will
  • How Net Zero will impact construction procurement decisions – Anna Baker, Head of Sustainability, Carey Group
  • Net Zero, how to bring a focus to support change on your projects – Elina Grigoriou FRSA HonRICS, Design & Sustainability Director, Grigoriou Interiors

Once the keynotes are complete, a debate will be facilitated by Damon Schunmann, a freelance journalist and Strategic Consultant to Barbour ABI, and our speakers will be joined on the panel by representatives of the FIS Board.

Building our Sustainable Future: Young guns take the lead with event to engage the sector

Building our Sustainable Future: Young guns take the lead with event to engage the sector

Learn how the construction industry is taking action to tackle climate change.  The Construct Zero Youth ‘BUILDING OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE’ event invites young people to think differently about the construction industry and explore the innovative solutions it is proposing to achieve high levels of sustainability across three main areas: materials, heavy plant and methods of construction. These areas are already evolving and inspiring people to join the movement in disrupting the industry and in changing its behaviours.

The event, scheduled for 23rd September is a hybrid event where you can hear from industry-leading speakers who are shaping the future of Net Zero in the construction industry and learn about the innovative new technologies which are transforming the way we build.

When: 23rd September 3-5pm

Where? : Hybrid event. Choose to attend and engage in person (Building Centre, 26 Store St, London WC1E 7BT) or online. 

Why?:  Understand how you can make a difference in driving the sustainability agenda in the construction industry; engage with our speakers, challenge each other, and be part of the movement for change.

Further details are available here and you can register via this link available here

CO2NSTRUCTZERO Youth is a group of nine young individuals from the CLC’s Net Zero Champion businesses in the construction industry.  They are using their expertise to create an exciting programme to showcase how the sector is tackling climate change. The climate emergency requires a response with the greatest urgency and the industry is stepping up to address this with increasing focus.

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here

Dragons’ Den Competition for Young Professionals in the Construction Industry

Dragons’ Den Competition for Young Professionals in the Construction Industry

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has today announced a new Dragon’s Den competition targeted at young industry professionals, accelerating the drive to net zero.

The competition aims to:
• bring forward practical ideas which are almost ready for implementation on sites/in factories, and suitable for wider industry adoption;
• capitalise on the collective political, industry and societal demand to reduce our emissions levels; and to,
• harness the power and voice of young professionals already working in the sector, providing support to accelerate their practical ideas to implementation.

Shortlisted applicants will present their ideas to the Construct Zero Dragon’s Den for debate and discussion, with the winner receiving a range of prizes including a £1,000 cash award. This is an exciting opportunity for young industry professionals to pitch existing ideas to the heart of Government. Further details including how to apply can be found here.

The CLC’s sector leadership role and its Construct Zero programme is today recognised by the United Nations Climate Champions Team’s announcement of the CLC becoming a Race to Zero Accelerator. This marks a key step in our journey, providing a platform to build on existing UK and global engagement across Government and with industry partners.

Through the Construct Zero industry-change programme, the Construction Leadership Council has accepted the challenge of decarbonising the industry, bringing the sector together to deliver tangible actions and sustainable change across the construction supply chain. It’s change programme will: i) measure the sector’s performance; ii) share knowledge and best practice between businesses and; iii) engage firms and communicate the sector’s role in reducing carbon emissions.

Sector’s Performance
CLC has committed to holding the sector to account on progress through quarterly updates on its Performance Framework, with the first update due for publication in late October, prior to COP.

Knowledge and Best Practice
Construct Zero has led in bringing together businesses across the whole construction supply chain, through its Business Champion programme, ranging from SMEs e.g. Adair and Peak Construction, operating locally, to large scale companies, delivering major international infrastructure projects, e.g. Saint-Gobain, Costain and Multiplex.

We are also seeking to share knowledge globally- our joint event with Mace at New York Climate Week, will bring together major clients, contractors and consultants from across the US and UK to showcase the best of Anglo-American collaboration; exploring success stories where joint UK/US expertise is helping to address the huge climate impacts of the built environment across the globe; and form the first step on the road towards better trade links and net zero knowledge sharing to reach a brighter future.

Communications and wider engagement
Construction is one key element of a wider, complex business eco-system. That’s why we are working with key partners, including EDF Energy and CBI, to reach beyond our sector, ensuring our aims, message and approach reach a much wider audience. Construct Zero is committed to this challenge, and will be presenting at key events in the run-up to COP, as well as providing specific practical advice for construction SMEs on reducing emissions, which will be published shortly on the Business Climate Hub.

The call to do more and take steps to reduce our emissions is an immediate one, to ensure we leave a sustainable impact that will live long beyond our immediate future generations. Construct Zero is engaging directly with young industry professionals, drawn from our Business Champion programme, who are already playing a key role in meeting this challenge this head-on. We are delighted they are hosting an event on 23 September to discuss and debate the key issues as part of the Italian Government’s series of virtual summits in the run-up to the Youth COP Summit in Milan.

Finally, and most crucially we are working closely with the COP Unit to finalise our presence at the COP Green Zone.

For COP to truly leave its legacy, it’s imperative we continue to drive forward both the high-level actions and commitments that emerge from COP, together with the enthusiasm and drive companies have and are continuing to generate.

Only by working together in step and at pace, will we truly be able to rise to the challenge and build back better, faster and greener.

Construction Minister Anne Marie Trevelyan said:

“Engaging talented young professionals in the construction industry is key to the future of the sector by developing the highly skilled workforce that will accelerate its drive to net zero.
“This competition, and recognition from the UN as a Race to Zero Accelerator, shows the Construction Leadership Council is continuing to take its role seriously in offering the sector the direction and leadership it needs to build back better and greener.”

Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith MP said:

“This competition is a fantastic opportunity for young professionals to make a mark on the construction industry by offering them the chance to have their innovative ideas to make the sector more sustainable
“Today’s competition launch shows the Construction Leadership Council is continuing to champion a cleaner, more sustainable sector – so it is right that they have been recognised by the UN as a Race to Zero Accelerator.”

 

Join the conversation #FISNetZeroChallenge

FIS announces CO2nstructZero partnership

FIS announces CO2nstructZero partnership

As part of a wider commitment to Net Zero, FIS has announced that it will become a Partner to the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) CO2nstructZero initiative.

CO2nstructZero builds upon the way that the industry united last year as a single force to tackle Covid-19, ensuring a consistent approach is taken by the whole sector while avoiding duplication of work.  The initiative focusses on three key areas Transport, Building Performance and Construction Activity and sets down 9 priorities for change focused on measurement, specification, procurement construction and waste management and cultural change.

A company who is supportive of CO2nstructZero and has committed to the following:

  • Signposting and support
    • Provide support/guidance to one or more of the 9 priorities which can be signposted from the CLC’s Construct Zero website
    • Report back to the CZ programme board on areas of missing advice and guidance which could be developed to support your members/network
  • Communications and engagement o Use the range of your comms channels to cascade out CZ news and industry progress
    • Host events for your members/network that focus on one or more of the 9 priorities, which support and are in collaboration with the CZ change programme
  • Performance metrics o Assist with the collection of data from the industry that will form part of the performance framework and quarterly reporting
    • Support members in selecting the appropriate metrics and commitments to sign up to
    • Monitoring organisations within your network who have signed up to ‘Race to Zero’, to encourage their continued commitment to reducing their emissions targets
  • Business Champions
    • Support members to become business champions working with them to develop their initial case study.
    • Finding an appropriate emerging leader to partner across your network with, if not able to find one internally
    • Feature your business champion and emerging leaders in your comms, forums and events to help share their learning across your network to their peers

Commenting on the partnership Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO stated:

“Like so much of the CLC work in the past 12 months, CO2nstructZero provides a framework that we can collaborate around, the three key focal points and 9 priorities make sense and it is up to us now as sectors to prioritise and structure our work so that we can feed into the bigger industry effort.  I am grateful for the work done by colleagues so far and we are looking forward to getting stuck in, with our own leadership group, and helping to deliver change”.

Speaking on behalf of CO2nstructZero and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, Andy Mitchell said:

“We have an open call for partners and are keen to see dynamic and progressive organisations like FIS to help co-ordinate efforts in their own community so that as a wider construction sector our efforts are joined up, and amplifying the broader work of the sector in this space. Collaboration is key to change and it is fantastic to have the support of FIS in this work”

More on the CO2nstructZero framework here 

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here

FIS Virtual Conference - A Path to Net Zero

Join us on 8 September at midday as we discuss the path to net zero.

In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050.  The Prime Minister has subsequently pledged that the UK will “Build Back Greener” with 2021 being the “defining year of climate action”.  But what does all this actually mean to projects in the finishes and interiors sector.

Our three keynote speakers will cover:

  • Net Zero and the impact on Design – Adam Strudwick, Principal, Corporate Interiors, London, Perkins&Will
  • How Net Zero will impact construction procurement decisions – Anna Baker, Head of Sustainability, Carey Group
  • Net Zero, how to bring a focus to support change on your projects – Elina Grigoriou FRSA HonRICS, Design & Sustainability Director, Grigoriou Interiors

Once the keynotes are complete, a debate will be facilitated by Damon Schunmann, a freelance journalist and Strategic Consultant to Barbour ABI, and our speakers will be joined on the panel by representatives of the FIS Board.

New Sustainability Champion to lead change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

New Sustainability Champion to lead change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

As part of a wider commitment to Net Zero, FIS has appointed a Sustainability Champion.  This announcement is timed to coincide with Net Zero Week of the FIS Annual Conference 2021.

Flavie Lowres, will be joining the team on an initial six month contract from mid-September. Flavie has a PhD in Materials and Metallurgy Science and Engineering from the University of Birmingham. She joined BRE in June 2003, chairs the Construction Materials Group and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Flavie spent 18 years at BRE where she was an Associate Director responsible for running the LCA and circular economy section of the team. She has been working in the field of materials sustainability since 2007 and has been involved in a number of UK and international projects related to sustainability in the built environment.

On her appointment FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:

“In this appointment we are recognising our responsibility, but also the opportunity to ensure Net Zero isn’t just about a better planet, but also a healthier sector where procurement recognises more than just how far we can screw down the best and final price.  Our strategy for change is focusssed on three key pillars I, we and them; how can I be better, how we can work better together and what help we need from them.  This eflects our need to support individual members to take the first and next step, the importance of collaboration to delivering change and how we can use the FIS influence to support this change through policy and procurement.  In Flavie we are bringing in some heavy weight expertise so that we can better target our support and ensure that we focus on curating support, collaborating widely and creating content or tools where needed”.

Flavie added

“I have seen the outline plan from FIS and am excited to get stuck in helping to shape and deliver change and working with FIS members to look at how we can really make a difference as a community”.

FIS is hosting a debate with Barbour ABI as part of their Annual Conference 2021 on Wednesday 8 September focussed on how the finishes and interiors sector is adapting in a journey to net zero.  The organisation has also announced this week that it has entered into a partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to create an virtual training hub to support individual businesses in delivering on the wider sustainability agenda and also that it has become a delivery partner for C02nstruct Zero, the Construction Leadership Council’s Net Zero Strategy.

You can book your free place at the FIS Round Table Debate A Path to Net Zero here

Join the conversation at #FISNetZeroChallenge

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here.