Campaign Calls for Drastic Action on Plastics and Packaging

Industry News Sustainability

AN INDUSTRY-WIDE campaign has been launched, to raise awareness about plastic consumption and how the construction industry can reduce, reuse and recycle plastics and packaging, called ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme campaign – which features on the industry’s Best Practice Hub – comes in response to startling findings from a Scheme survey of over 900 people working within the UK and Irish construction industries.

Drastic Action Needed on Plastics and Packaging

The survey discovered that although over 95% of respondents said the industry needs to be doing something to reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging, 51% still have little understanding of the rules and regulations surrounding plastics and packaging, and only 44% know how to recycle different plastic and packaging materials.

The survey also revealed that:

98% said the over-consumption of plastics and packaging is a global issue.
92% believe plastics and packaging are extremely dangerous to the environment.
81% said the construction industry is not doing enough to reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging.
31% said they frequently use plastics and packaging that cannot be reused or recycled.

The Scheme is calling on all construction sites, companies, suppliers and project clients to drastically reduce their consumption of plastics and packaging. Not only does the reduction of plastics improve the environment, it also makes business sense, with many organisations reporting savings.

Industry-wide Campaign

‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ includes a range practical case studies and guidance from contractors, clients and service suppliers including: AMA Waste Management; Aztec; Balfour Beatty; Crossrail; Environment Agency; Griffiths; Knight Build; Protec; Right Waste Right Place; Mace; Morgan Sindall; Multiplex; Skanska; Sir Robert McAlpine; Wates and Ward.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy said: “As construction is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK, our industry has one of the greatest responsibilities to society, and to the environment, to ensure that we improve our standards in minimising waste from plastics.

“While considerable progress is being made – with over 76% of Scheme-registered construction sites setting targets to reduce, reuse and recycle waste – it is clear that a concerted effort is needed to achieve this drastic reduction in waste from plastics and packaging.”

Find out more about to the ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ campaign.