Naylor Love, one of New Zealand’s leading construction companies, has long been committed to sustainability and responsible construction practices. On a recent project, waste minimisation and carbon tracking were key priorities. To support these goals, Naylor Love partnered with Envirocon to implement a Zero Waste strategy for excess concrete, sending the small amounts of wet concrete left after a pour to Envirocon to be repurposed into precast concrete products.
The Importance of Zero Waste Certificates
As part of the project’s sustainability objectives, the client is closely monitoring material waste and its impact on the environment. This includes tracking excess materials, disposal methods, and waste reduction strategies. While Naylor Love already has measures in place to manage concrete use efficiently, the Zero Waste Certificate provides essential proof of the volume of concrete successfully repurposed. By quantifying waste reduction, these certificates reinforce the project's commitment to responsible resource management and a circular economy approach.
Contribution to Sustainability Reporting
The zero waste certificates provided by Envirocon play a vital role in Naylor Love’s sustainability reporting. These certificates enable accurate tracking of incoming and outgoing concrete, contributing to the company’s monthly waste reports. By leveraging this data, Naylor Love is monitoring it’s progress toward its ambitious waste diversion target of 90%(F&P), reinforcing its commitment to reducing environmental impact.
Waste Minimisation in Responsible Construction
Sustainability is a core pillar of Naylor Love’s approach to construction. The company recognises that construction sites generate significant waste, and minimising this impact is a priority. By implementing proactive waste management strategies, such as repurposing excess wet concrete for reuse (top of the waste hierarchy after preventing and reducing), Naylor Love continues to enhance its environmental responsibility while maintaining high-quality construction standards.
The Role of Envirocon in Achieving Sustainability Goals
Envirocon’s expertise as New Zealand’s only accredited product stewardship scheme for construction is instrumental in achieving waste reduction on the Fisher & Paykel (F&P) project, a complex and large-scale build. By ensuring that surplus concrete is collected and repurposed rather than sent to a cleanfill site to be carbon-intensively crushed, Envirocon enables Naylor Love and Fisher & Paykel to achieve zero concrete wet waste. This, alongside other low-carbon initiatives on the project, contributes to what promises to be a truly comprehensive sustainability outcome.
The Value Zero Waste Certificates
Based on the success of this initiative, Naylor Love is rolling out zero waste certificates on their other construction projects around the country. These certificates provide clear, quantifiable evidence of waste diversion efforts, demonstrating tangible progress towards sustainability goals. By integrating these measures into construction practices, companies can enhance their environmental impact reporting and contribute meaningfully to industry-wide sustainability improvements.
