Environmental Update (January 2009)
Half of Construction Businesses still unaware that Site Waste
Management Plans (SWMPs) are law
More than six months on from SWMPs becoming a legal requirement,
a survey conducted by NetRegs and the Federation of Master Builders
has shown that more than half (51.2 per cent) of construction
businesses are still unaware that SWMPs are mandatory for projects
over £300,000 in England.
During this time of economic uncertainty for the construction
industry, positive statistics show that businesses are successfully
using SWMPs to save money and even win new business.
The NetRegs survey revealed that almost half (45 per cent) of
those that have used SWMPs reported money savings for their
business as a result of less wastage and more efficient handling of
environmental requirements. In addition, a quarter (25 per cent) of
those that had used SWMPs stated that using the plans had helped
them to win new business. The statistics suggest that having
environmental credentials could be the route for construction
businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors and win new
business in a shrinking market.
Overall, the research indicated a very positive trend of
construction businesses improving their environmental credentials.
The survey results show that 83 per cent of respondents have, in
the last 12 months, looked at the way they work and have tried to
find ways to reduce the amount of waste they produce. Two thirds of
respondents have also changed the way that they work to prevent or
reduce harm to the environment. As results show that environmental
responsibility can result in business benefits, rather than
increased costs, it is proving an increasingly important factor in
businesses’ thinking.