If we agree that sustainability is the point at which we give back as much as we take, then only reducing our impacts is not sustainable.
Increasingly we, our clients and our customers, are looking for added benefits and value, giving back more than we take when we design, build or manufacture. Indeed, social value (based on Social Value Act 2012) and sustainability performance are now core questions in Bids and PQQ’s.
How can we really look beyond our projects to understand the social, economic and ecological purpose and benefits now expected? And, in doing so attract better investment, commission winning projects, win better work and orders.
Four approaches to embrace …
– Understand and identify the positive (CSR and Sustainability) impacts of your organisation or project on the as many of the 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDG’s) as is appropriate.
– Think beyond current standards that are founded on reducing impact, and familiarise yourself with regenerative standards for positive wellbeing, ecological, social and cultural futures – such as The Living Building Challenge and Declare, the Well Build Standard, One Planet Living or the Natural Step (*)
– Identify, and quantify, the health co-benefits of your projects, your construction methods and product manufacture.
– Know the business case for sustainability. Become familiar with the raft of reports and publications that identify the economic advantages of sustainability.
Welcome to the new normal of regenerative sustainability
This Blog is based on discussions at recent events, in particular the Specifi Edinburgh Services, March 28th, and a topic that will surely emerge at future events.
(*) Standards explored in Martin Brown’s FutuREstorative, Working Towards a New Sustainability
