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We are aware of the effects that our activities can have on our environment and accept our responsibility for future generations by limiting our impact. Through many initiatives we continually strive to be as socially and environmentally responsible as possible and believe that sustainable innovations can even make a positive commercial difference in the short and long term.
The purchase of products and services in a socially and environmentally responsible way that delivers value for money and benefits to our clients and communities.
For example, we recognise the need for, and are committed to, the use of sustainable timber throughout all of our activities and site operations.
This commitment is independently audited and certified on an annual basis and demonstrates that all timber purchased for use in VolkerStevin's work has originated from responsibly managed forests and is harvested legally helping meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.
Reduce our carbon emissions year on year.
Through the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme, VolkerStevin was audited on its use and management of fuels, which included a carbon emission footprint calculated for each of the fixed office locations and a typical site establishment. As a result of the audit teh company submitted a business plan, which identified areas for improvement. A number of these changes have been adopted at our Morecambe office and others were satisfied following the move to a new BREEAM ‘Very Good' rated office at Preston in 2010.
We also seek to reduce fuel usage by car sharing, cycling or walking and through the use of more effective IT systems such as teleconferences and/or video conferences.
To reduce the amount of waste we produce from activities, with a particular focus on the prevention of construction, demolition and excavation waste sent to landfill.
Using our procurement procedures coupled with our Green Procurement Strategy we minimise packaging and combine multiple site orders so that little or no excessive material is ordered reducing potential waste. We are experienced in the use of waste exemptions, the WRAP Quality Protocol for Aggregates and the CL:AIRE Code of Practice to allow the reuse and recycling of construction waste materials. The company has set a target for 2012 for at least 80% of waste sent off site to be either reused or recycled; in 2011, 84% of our waste was sent for reuse or recycling.
To maximise improvements and mitigate any adverse impacts on the environment arising from our activities.
For example we were a Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) Gold Award Winner 2012 for The Avenue Remediation and Landscaping Contract and received the following comment:
"The site made great efforts to reassure neighbours with dedicated staff fielding hotline calls and resolving them against a 24-hour response close-out. Operating schedules were often amended in line with the weather forecast (as this could affect potential nuisance levels) and regular forward planning meetings pre-empted problems developing. Charities were supported and a local football team sponsored.
A key issue was smell so an ‘odour diarist' team was set up to monitor and report regularly. Air quality, noise and dust were also carefully monitored via units installed on lamp posts around the area. Sorting and waste picking work was undertaken according to treatment (bio-remediation, thermal desorption, recycling or as backfill). The site collected and decontaminated water which was used in site processes and for damping down.
This is a fine example of a well executed communications programme which kept neighbours onside during work on this locally notorious site."