Awards for Excellence 2011 logo

Regional award, Example of Excellence

Wates - Wales Environment Award - Winner

To reach the UK’s 2050 carbon targets, work is needed on a grand scale. Some 26 million homes must be refurbished to near zero carbon standards. It has been said that this will be the most difficult engineering challenge Britain has faced since WWII. Be a part of it!

Wates Group

Using ISO14001 as a foundation, Wates’ two fold-fold focus for environmental improvement lies in carbon reduction and a zero waste target, aiming to lead the way in low carbon construction.

Wates is a 114 year old family business with integrity and a respect for people, communities and the environment and centre.

Wates Living Space is a housing provider where the construction and development business is driven by a social purpose. Wates currently holds Platinum status within the Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index- the only company within the construction and services sector achieving this.

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Wates - home of the future

Wates are building the low carbon homes of the future

Process

Together with the Carbon Trust, Wates have developed a 10 year Low Carbon Plan for their construction projects and business. The design and use of a new ‘Eco Cabin’ offers cost-neutral, energy efficient on-site accommodation.

Wates are committed to working with all suppliers to increase their energy efficiency by raising awareness and providing training.

Driven by an employee environmental group, vital staff engagement occurs through travel plan creation, encouragement of sustainable transport though various cycling and car sharing schemes, increase of video conferencing facilities, and awareness raising of the associated emissions of business trips for all staff.

In the company’s strive towards zero waste, Wates have signed up to WRAP’s ‘Halving Waste to Landfill’ programme- and successfully also recruited all of their suppliers to do the same. Waste training is delivered to all staff and across the supply chain, with waste reduction being driven throughout all areas of business including design, on-site management and procurement methods.

Wates believes that “at a time of great economic uncertainty, corporate and social responsibility is more important than ever”. Commitment to the environmental has proven its business benefit for Wates by setting the business apart from its competitors in a challenging market, seeing an increase in turnover of 34% and 134 new staff members in 2010.

Impact

  • During 2009, carbon emissions across the business were cut by 4%, with 10% of energy being produced by renewable sources
  • In 2010, 35% of all projects were certified as BREEAM ‘Very Good’ or better, with a target of 100% by 2015
  • Their Green Travel Plan has seen wide ranging benefits, with 20 staff already taking part in the cycle to work scheme, and 69 staff utilising the ‘green car’ incentives
  • 95% of total waste was diverted from landfill in 2010 and as much as 99% on over a quarter of sites
  • Working in partnership with suppliers has influenced eight of them to gain ISO14001 certification and saved each supplier approximately £4,000 through efficiency measures
  • Wates have increased turnover by 34% and employed 134 new staff members in 2010

See also

Download the Wales Awards for Excellence case study book

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