Published last week, the global study provides an insight on future trends and technology in the built environment as more and more developers and engineers are making the switch to provide greener business establishments.
As the cost-of-living continues to bite it can be easy for developers, investors, and contractors to dismiss net-zero targets and provide establishments that are cheap and easy to maintain. However, the study, produced by Ramboll, a global engineering, architecture, and consultancy company, highlights that sustainability is vital for successful business operations.
At a glance, one of the key takeaway’s from the service includes the statistic that 98% of all respondents who took part in the survey, which can be viewed in full here, considered sustainability important for the success of business operations, which was an increase of 4% from 2021. However, despite this vote of confidence, only 50% have embedded net-zero buildings into their organisation’s business strategy towards 2030, and 33% did not know what sustainability reporting schemes their organisation used.
As a follow up, experts highlighted that higher investment costs is considered the biggest barrier preventing sustainability being prioritised within organisations as 61% of respondents stated this – the sentiment was even higher among UK respondents with 66% believing it to be a major issue.
However, recent research has shown businesses involved within the retail sector are making the switch to selling more sustainable products. The most up-to-date example is leading supermarket Lidl has just announced plans to stock less meat in its stores in a bid to favour more vegan/vegetarian alternatives. In addition, Lidl also announced this week it will become the first UK supermarket to incorporate ocean bound plastic into its water bottle packaging and changing all milk caps to clear, to improve their recyclability.
Although less businesses are failing to make the switch to become more sustainable, there is some reassurance that popular retailers are helping towards addressing the current climate crisis.
Research from this year’s Sustainability Buildings Market Study also states 62% of those involved thought ‘circular economy’ was the most important trend for the construction and real estate sector, which provides some optimism as this statistic only sat at 49% last year. Although, ‘carbon neutrality’ just pipped circular economy to the post as the most important trend at 63%.
However, on a more disappointing note, the report outlines that a mere 22% strive for biodiversity in major renovations of buildings or new construction projects, but this is progress on only 10% in 2021.
Commenting on the results from the study, Scott Brookes, Director for Ramboll, said: ‘This year’s Sustainable Buildings Market Study offers us deep insight into the what, how and why of sustainability, with investors, developers, contractors, engineers, architects, and designers across the business environment providing responses.
‘One of the standout statistics from this year’s study is that despite 98% of all respondents considering sustainability important for successful business operations, only 50% have embedded net zero buildings into their organisation’s business strategy towards 2030.
‘Whilst company-specific barriers across the landscape may include a myriad of legal, technological or economic factors, these results remind us to make every effort to turn ambition into action.’
‘Further, almost 2/3 of respondents considered the ‘circular economy’ the most important trend for the construction and real estate sector, up from 49% in 2021, with 60% of organisations saying they had an increased focus on refurbishment,’ Scott said. ‘To co-create a future that is decarbonised to net zero, we must embrace our oft-unloved existing building stock, which will undoubtedly play a leading role in any future urban prosperity.’
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