Carbon Footprint Awareness on Site

The construction industry is responsible for approximately 25% of the UK total carbon emissions.
Carbon emissions come from materials production, transport, plant fuel use, and energy on site.
Embodied carbon is the CO2 released during manufacturing of materials like cement, steel, and bricks.
Operational carbon comes from fuel burned by plant, generators, heating, and vehicles during construction.
Concrete production alone accounts for around 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
Reducing engine idling, using electric plant, and minimising waste all lower the site carbon footprint.
Many clients now set carbon reduction targets as contractual requirements for their construction projects.
PAS 2080 provides the framework for managing carbon in buildings and infrastructure.
Simple actions by every operative — turning off engines, reducing waste, reusing materials — add up significantly.
The UK government legally committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 under the Climate Change Act.

Client requirements	Major clients including government, water companies, and developers now require carbon measurement and reduction on all projects.
Climate responsibility	Construction is one of the largest carbon-emitting industries. Every site team has a role in reducing environmental impact.
Cost savings	Reducing fuel use, waste, and material consumption directly lowers project costs alongside carbon emissions.

Do

Don't

Switch off engines and plant when not in active use to reduce idle fuel burn.
Segregate waste for recycling and reuse materials on site where possible.
Use electric or hybrid plant and equipment where available on the project.
Plan deliveries to reduce the number of vehicle journeys to and from site.
Turn off lights, heaters, and equipment in cabins and compounds when not needed.
Measure and record fuel usage, waste volumes, and energy consumption on site.
Choose locally sourced materials to reduce transport distances and emissions.
Report ideas for reducing carbon to your supervisor; small changes add up.
Maintain plant and vehicles properly to ensure efficient fuel consumption.
Reuse excavated material on site rather than importing new fill where suitable.

DON'T leave plant or vehicle engines idling when they are not being used.
DON'T send recyclable materials to landfill when segregation facilities are available.
DON'T over-order materials that will be wasted and sent to skip or landfill.
DON'T leave site cabin lights and heaters running overnight or on weekends.
DON'T ignore leaking fuel or hydraulic systems; they waste resources and pollute.
DON'T use larger plant than the task requires; it burns more fuel needlessly.
DON'T dismiss carbon reduction as someone else's problem; it starts with you.
DON'T waste water on site; pumping and treating water has a carbon cost.
DON'T request unnecessary deliveries that could be combined into fewer loads.
DON'T damage materials through poor storage, making them unusable and wasted.

See also: Fuel Efficiency and Idling Plant | Waste Segregation On Site

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