Waste reduction an added benefit of 'right first time'

The role that an error-reduction strategy can play in minimising waste and contributing to the carbon reduction agenda was raised at this week's GIRI forum for the first time. It marks a critical juncture for the Get It Right Initiative, making explicit the potential impact that implementation of GIRI's strategy for change can have on a project's carbon footprint. 

While strategies, technologies and behaviours to reduce error are still very much GIRI's core focus, the intention is to emphasise the wide range of benefits that come from error reduction - not just financial savings, but improvements in safety and quality, as well as a reduction in waste. 

The contribution that the global construction industry makes to the human race's overall CO2 emissions is significant, attendees heard; considerably more than than that generated by India, and approaching the level of the USA's contribution. Of this, a large proportion comes from the production of cement.

This was one of a series of facts that presenter Nick Francis used to put climate change and construction into context and lead on to a discussion of the twin priorities of reducing impact and improving resilience.

Participants were asked to consider what the construction industry should be doing both to reduce the impact of the sector on the environment and to build for climate resilience, and the potential contradiction between the two. What are the behavioural and cultural barriers in the industry that prevent progress and what is needed to change this? 

The forum is available to watch again on the GIRI YouTube channel.

Download the Mural board from this link.