Barratt Developments PLC has reduced its annual waste consumption by over 15,100 tonnes, the weight equivalent of 725 homes, according to its published sustainability report.
The new figures show it has already exceeded its 2020 waste reduction target three years early by decreasing waste on site by some 13% since 2015.
In 2015, Barratt set itself the goal of becoming the leading national sustainable housebuilder and set out targets to achieve this by 2020. Its performance this year, outlined in the new sustainability report, confirms that Barratt has made significant progress right across its business.
Last year Barratt saw the results of a renewed focus on designing out waste, and waste reduction, rather than simply segregation and recycling.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments – “It is great to see that we are hitting our sustainability targets and delivering tangible benefits that help our employees, the communities we are building and the wider environment.”
Through designing out waste, Barratt used more right-sized plasterboard to save 487 tonnes of waste plasterboard, ready-cut floor decking saving 300 tonnes and returned over 2,600 tonnes of wooden pallets for re-use. It also recycled over 11,000 paint tins. Overall, it diverted 95% of its total construction waste away from landfill.
The single largest driver of waste savings though was getting rid of mixed waste skips to make sure landfill disposal is used only as a last resort. The result from this was an 87% reduction in general “active” waste.
The report also shows that Barratt has reduced its operational carbon intensity (carbon emissions per 1,000sq ft of build area) by 8% since 2015. This figure is just 2% short of its longer term 2025 target.
During the year Barratt replaced all show home decorative lighting with LEDs, reducing annual carbon emissions by an estimated 680 tonnes.
Plus, it has just installed a new biomass boiler at its bedrooms factory, which will save 80 tonnes of carbon per year by using the one tonne of wood waste per day as a fuel source for heating.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments plc, said: “Sustainability is key to how we act as a responsible business. As the country’s number one housebuilder, our sustainable values are vitally important to both our stakeholders and customers who expect us to lead by our actions.
“It is great to see that we are hitting our sustainability targets and delivering tangible benefits that help our employees, the communities we are building and the wider environment.”