The construction industry has a key role to play in global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and the alliance is committed to driving change as we work to expand the Metro network across the West Midlands on behalf of Transport for West Midlands. Our continued efforts have led to considerable progress towards an ambitious goal to significantly reduce air pollution while building tram extensions.
This longstanding commitment to helping protect the environment during construction activities, has led to the team exceeding its carbon reduction target last year by more than 300 tonnes; making a carbon saving of 3,389 tCO2e, which is the equivalent of more than 400 million smartphones charged!
projects; most recently, on the Birmingham Eastside extension where the sustainable product was used to form the base of the track in the Dale End area of Birmingham city centre.
But that’s not all! We’re already contributing to the reduction of long term C02 emissions by building a sustainable mode of transport, helping to reduce the negative impacts on the environment by improving air quality and reducing atmospheric pollution.
The West Midlands Metro extensions will also allow more people to use this mode of transport for day-to-day travel, further reducing congestion, while helping to achieve a modal shift from private car use. And that is something to celebrate as we mark the United Nation’s celebration of International Day of Clean Air (Saturday 7 September).
And it is not just the construction activity where the alliance is helping to improve the environment. By looking at our construction activities through a sustainability lens, we’ve adopted several innovative initiatives that have bolstered our carbon saving achievements:
- “Earth friendly” low-carbon fibre reinforcement concrete is used across our projects; most recently, on the Birmingham Eastside extension where the sustainable product was used to form the base of the track in the Dale End area of Birmingham city centre
- Our works to strengthen rather than replace Dudley’s historic Parkhead Viaduct structure led to a whopping 1,500 tonne carbon saving.
- We’ve also cut down our use of single-use plastic bottles, and even installed drainage pipes made from recycled bottles, with both initiatives helping take action against plastic waste and pollution.
- What’s more, we’re lighting sites and powering cabins with solar energy.
- And in the communities we’re working in, our regenerative projects see the planting of new greenery, including trees, plants and shrubs, in places such as Digbeth High Street and Lower Bull Street. This all-too-forgotten part of our programme has contributed to a greener Birmingham.
Contributing to a more sustainable future
As we strive towards contributing to a more sustainable future, it’s essential that we continue to implement responsible and sustainable practices wherever we can as we work to minimise our impact on the environment.
We are constantly researching and adopting the latest advancements in sustainable construction, and although we have already made such a significant difference in terms of carbon savings, there’s still so much more we can do as an industry for both us and our environment.
We’re already a leader in this activity but we will continue to take steps to bolster our sustainable credentials to further reduce our carbon footprint while placing sustainability at the core of everything we do.