Sustainability Management
Social values are changing significantly, and companies are increasingly required to be more transparent about social and environmental standards. There are numerous sustainability initiatives in different fields of action, however, these are often focused on already completed buildings and products.
Therefore, it is important to take a transient approach to construction and maintenance projects and to integrate the right aspects at an early stage.
In defining and evaluating the sustainability aspects, we follow the Global Reporting Initiative standard. The sustainability aspects are aligned with the natural regenerative capacity of the systems involved as well as with special consideration given to the CSR Directive Implementation Act (CSR-RUG), the Supply Chain Act (from January 2023) and the new Climate Protection Act.
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Prospectively: EU Supply Chain Law
The basis and first step of our service profile Sustainability Management for construction and maintenance projects is a hazard field discussion regarding the environmental and social risks for the project. Due to the complexity of the sustainability topic, a specifically task-oriented approach is a prerequisite for further effective processing. In light of this, the life cycle modules according to DIN EN 15804, stationary and transient components as well as the award strategy of the project take on a pivotal role. This is done within the framework of a materiality analysis.
In addition to the primacy of economic efficiency, adherence to schedules and legal certainty in construction and maintenance projects, environmental compatibility is becoming increasingly relevant. In terms of environmental risks for the project, the following aspects are considered; for example:
- Biodiversity: habitat and species conservation
- Use of materials
- Energy consumption
- Water consumption
- Emissions
- Waste and waste water, contamination and hazardous substances
Given the new Supply Chain Act, there is, inter alia, a focus on social compatibility and in addition to the classic occupational health and safety issues, employment relationships are also coming into focus within the supply chain. The following aspects are important here:
- Occupational health and safety
- Accommodation for staff members
- Arrival and departure of staff
- Employment relationships
In a third step, the sustainability plan is implemented in the execution phase of the project. Here we provide the occupational safety and environmental protection specialists or safety supervisors required for the coordination and monitoring tasks.
Throughout all project phases, we moderate the sustainability aspects with the project participants. In summary, our sustainability management for construction and maintenance projects consists of the following steps:
- Hazard field discussion on environmental and social compatibility
- Preparation of the sustainability plan in the planning phase
- Implementation of the sustainability plan in the execution phase
The focus is on transient services directly on the construction site or in the production facilities. However, our service Sustainability Management does not replace statutory planning in accordance with environmental or building law.
Our sustainability approach can therefore be applied:
- in construction and maintenance projects for structural and mechanical engineering facilities at the earliest possible project stage
- for the discontinuation of internal processes due to the requirements of a new supply chain law or environmental or climate protection regulations.
We are happy to help you with any queries. Please contact us for further information!
