Achieving Sustainability in Construction Procurement

What is Sustainable Construction?

Sustainable construction is a set of processes to assist the construction industry deliver built assets that –

• enhance the quality of life and offer customer satisfaction;
• offer flexibility and the potential to cater for user changes in the future;
• provide and support desirable natural and social environments; and
• maximise the efficient use of resources.

The Sustainable Construction Group

The Sustainable Construction Group was set up in December 2004 to issue guidance to Project Sponsors and Project Managers in relation to sustainable construction. Central Procurement Directorate chairs the group and membership includes representation from Centres of Procurement Expertise and Government Construction Clients in Northern Ireland.

The work of the group is guided by the Policy Framework for Construction Procurement and in particular the following two documents, which set targets and objectives:

• GCCG Sustainability Action Plan (pdf, 137kb)
• Achieving Sustainability in Construction Procurement (pdf, 79.4kb) [This document accompanies the GCCG Sustainability Action Plan]

Achieving Excellence in Construction-Procurement Guide 11. Sustainability

Achieving Excellence in Construction Procurement Guide 11: Sustainability (pdf, 952kb)
Published by the Office of Government Commerce (January 2007). This guide builds on the themes identified in the GCCG Sustainability Action Plan.

Sustainable Construction Guidance Notes

The following Sustainable Construction Guidance Notes are available for downloading:

• Guidance Notes Introduction (pdf, 297kb)
• Guidance Note 1: General Roles and Responsibilities (pdf, 251kb)
  This outlines the General Roles and Responsibilities of Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), Contracting Authorities, Centres of Procurement Expertise (CoPE) and Project Managers in relation to sustainable construction.
• Guidance Note 2: Targets for Recycling (pdf, 249kb)
  The aim of this note is to focus on one of the most important targets for sustainable construction. A minimum of “10% of the material value of the project should derive from recycled or reused content” (Ref. Achieving Excellence Guide 11: Sustainability, Page 22)
• Guidance Note 3: Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste Materials (pdf, 368kb)
  This note deals with the minimisation and proper disposal of construction, demolition and excavation waste in public procurement contracts.
• Guidance Note 4: Bulk Inert Materials/Aggregates – Re-use and Recycling (pdf, 541kb)
  This guide aims to promote the re-use and recycling of bulk inert materials in construction in order to reduce consumption of natural resources, energy, transport costs and waste going to landfill.
• Guidance Note 5: Considerate Constructors' Scheme (pdf, 330kb)
  This guide promotes the use of the Considerate Constructors' Scheme which embodies respect for people and their local environment in its code of practices. This is a key aspect of the social responsibility dimension of sustainable construction. The use of the Considerate Constructors' Scheme, or similar, is a mandatory requirement of the Sustainability Action Plan.
• Guidance Note 6: Demolition, Dismantling, Recovery and Reuse (pdf, 431kb)
  This note sets out radical new procedures and practices (compared to the previously accepted ways) for Employers, Project Managers and Contractors to follow. It aims to minimise the quantity of waste being sent to landfill sites.
• Guidance Note 7 Sustainable Design in the Built Environment
  This note provides the construction design practitioner with an introduction to sustainable design in the built environment. The requirements contained within this Guidance Note are to be implemented for new projects commenced after 1st June 2011

See Also

Constructing Excellence Website

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