Sustainability management for construction sites
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 on a transient approach to construction and maintenance projects and to integrate the appropriate aspects at an early stage.
In defining and evaluating the sustainability aspects, we follow the Global Reporting Initiative standard. These include “classic HSE aspects” (HSE: Health, Safety, Environment), which are additionally aligned according to the natural regenerative capacity. Many areas of sustainability have become protected legal positions through the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, which came into force on 1 January 2023.
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Adoption of the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains.
Prospectively: EU Supply Chain Law
As a project-related response to the CSR Directive Implementation Act (CSR-RUG), a first version of our sustainability management already took the basic idea of the
aforementioned Act into account. According to the contents of the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, we have restructured our service profile. The Act,
which was passed in January 2023, requires companies to exercise due diligence for human rights and environmental questions. This due diligence process includes the integration:
- of risk management,
- of a commissioner,
- a policy statement on human rights issues,
- a risk analysis,
- of prevention measures,
- remedial measures, if applicable; and
- of a reporting system.
The aim is to establish appropriate and effective risk management along the entire supply chain. Companies with a size of 3000 employees (1000 employees from 2024) are required to conduct a regular risk analysis for their own business unit and direct suppliers. For indirect suppliers, an event-related risk analysis “based on substantial knowledge” is mandatory.
With regard to transient construction processes, we assume that “direct suppliers” refers to contractors with a direct contractual relationship and “indirect suppliers” refers to their subcontractors.”
The basic and first step of our service profile Sustainability Management for construction sites 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. Significant social and environmental risks are subjected to a risk analysis in accordance with the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains.
The protected legal positions according to the Act’s §2 are largely covered by our sustainability aspects based on the GRI standard. Environmental risks are relevant in the following topics, for example:
- Use of materials
- Energy consumption
- Water consumption
- Emissions
- Biodiversity: habitat and species conservation
- Waste and waste water, contamination and hazardous substances
Social risks can arise, for example, from the following fields:
- Employment relationships
- Occupational health and safety
- Non-discrimination
- Child and forced labour
In a second step in the planning phase of the project, the results of the hazard field discussion are incorporated into the sustainability plan. A sustainability plan is a classic project-related HSE plan (HSE: Health, Safety, Environment) that is supplemented by sustainability topics. If, for instance, a safety and health plan, site regulations or an HSE turnaround concept are required for the construction site or maintenance measure, these will be included.
The sustainability plan should be part of the contract for the contractors. If desired, an external company evaluation of selected companies as well as training on environmental and social compatibility can furthermore become part of our service. The due diligence process of the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains is implemented continuously.
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.
Our sustainability approach can therefore be applied:
- In construction and maintenance projects for structural and mechanical engineering facilities at the earliest possible stage of the project,
- for the discontinuation of internal company processes due to requirements of the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains or climate protection regulations.
Advantages of sustainability management:
- HSE concerns, especially responsibilities and tasks, are identified at an early stage.
- Sustainability aspects are presented transparently as "add-ons" to the decision.
- Sustainability management complies with the due diligence process of the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains.
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