News
SusConSol help develop construction Circular Economy tool – 26 February 2020
Sustainable Construction Solutions were invited to help develop a new circular economy tool for all those involved in the design and construction of buildings. The Regenerate Tool is being developed by Sheffield University and AECOM to help explore how circular a building design is. The development workshop was attended by a number construction organisations who are actively promoting a circular economy including AHMM, Architype, BAM, Canary Wharf, Landsec and Ramboll. The output from the workshop has now been incorporated into an Excel tool which will eventually be moved online. Sustainable Construction Solutions are already trialling the tool on a project in Cambridge. For more information on the tool click here> or contact us> to use the tool on your project.
SusConSol deliver first SCSS Responsible Timber Sourcing Workshop – 12 February 2020
Sustainable Construction Solutions delivered the first of their Responsible Timber Sourcing workshops for the Supply Chain Sustainability School to Network Rail and their supply chain in Cardiff on the 12 February. The half day workshops, specifically designed for the construction supply chain, covers chain of custody certification schemes including PEFC, FSC and Grown in Britain, and also looks at new timber technologies, timber and fire, and how timber fits into the circular economy. For more information on attending or hosting a Responsible Timber Sourcing Workshop in your area, contact the Supply Chain Sustainability School click here>
SusConSol speak at UK Construction Week – 10 October 2019
Charlie Law was invited back to speak at the UK Construction Week, for the second year running, on timber and the circular economy and responsible timber sourcing, alongside speakers from Architype and ChangeBuilding. On timber and the circular economy, Charlie discussed how timber should be treated as a technical nutrient with a focus on optimising the service life through better design and timber modification. On responsible sourcing Charlie stressed the need for inclusive specification clauses that allow the use of certified timber from a number of schemes including PEFC, FSC and Grown in Britain. SusConSol deliver certified CPD on responsible timber sourcing in conjunction with PEFC UK at no cost; for more information click here>
SusConSol pick up Green Apple Gold Award with Kier – 12 November 2018
Charlie Law picked up a prestigious Green Apple Gold Award with Peter Johnson, former Group Environmental Manager at Kier Group today. The award was presented to Kier for their 30 by 30 in 3 days event which SusConSol helped to organise. The Kier 30 by 30 programme aims to reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030, and the event at Kier’s Tempsford Headquarters, held over 3 days in July 2017, bought together a number of suppliers to showcase their latest plant and equipment. These included electric cars, hybrid excavators and generators, and energy efficient cabins. The event was very well received and is believed to have helped contributed to Kier’s significant carbon emission reductions over the last year. For more information on the Green Apple Awards click here>
SusConSol speak at UK Construction Week – 10 October 2018
Charlie Law spoke at the 2018 UK Construction Week on circular economy business models in construction, along with a distinguished panel including Stuart Spencer of LWARB, Harriet O’Brien of ARUP and Robert Spencer of AECOM. Key points Charlie explored included designing for optimal service life, the disconnect between maintenance cycles and service life, securing raw/recycled material sources, lease and service model options, and return logistics solutions. For more information on UK Construction Week click here>
SusConSol deliver first Responsible Timber Sourcing CPDs – 25 September 2018
Sustainable Construction Solutions delivered the first of their Responsible Timber Sourcing CPDs at Fletcher Priest Architects today. The 1hr lunchtime seminars, sponsored by PEFC, are certified by the CPD Certification Service and are specifically aimed at designers and others who specify timber. The seminar covers the UK timber market, UK Government Timber Procurement Policy and their approved certification schemes, other drivers for certified timber, specification clauses, and an explanation of chain of custody. For more information or to arrange a CPD contact PEFC UK at info@pefc.co.uk.
SusConSol deliver first SCSS Circular Economy Workshop – 17 July 2018
Sustainable Construction Solutions delivered the first of their Circular Economy Workshops for the Supply Chain Sustainability School at Kier Group’s offices in Cardiff on the 17 July. The half day workshops, specifically designed for manufacturers, suppliers and trade contractors, work through real life circular economy solutions for the attendees products. For more information on attending or hosting a Circular Economy Workshop in your area, contact the Supply Chain Sustainability School click here>
Launch of SCSS Circular Economy E-Learning and Workshops – 11 May 2018
The Supply Chain Sustainability School launched there latest e-learning module on the Circular Economy on the 11 May, developed in conjunction with Sustainable Construction Solutions. The module introduces learners to the concept of a circular economy and the systems and business model changes that will need to be made. The e-learning is supplemented by a half day Circular Economy Workshop that can be hosted by any SCSS member. For more information on the SCSS circular economy e-learning click here>
Charlie Law speaks at Ecobuild – 8 March 2018
Charlie Law spoke at Ecobuild 2018 on the challenges of implementing a circular economy in construction, along with a distinguished panel including Duncan Baker-Brown of BBM Sustainable Design, Richard Boyd or Arup and Jon Bootland of ASBP. Key points Charlie explored included designing for optimal service life, and the disconnect between maintenance cycles and service life, implementation of circular economy business models, and return logistics solutions. For more information on Ecobuild 2018 click here>
Charlie Law speaks at CTI Westminster Conference – 30 November 2016
Charlie Law sat on a distinguished panel at the CTI Conference in Westminster on the 30th November. The panel included Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury and member of the Timber APPG, Ken Walsh, MD of Danzer UK, and David Hopkins, MD of the Timber Trade Federation (TTF). The panel addressed key themes including EUTR and global timber trade regulation, low carbon economy, Brexit uncertainty, tree planting, and timber in construction. For more information on the event click here>
Charlie Law presents at APF 2016 – 15 and 16 September 2016
Charlie Law presented at APF 2016, the largest forestry event in the UK, on the 15th and 16th September. In the session entitled ‘Increasing supply and demand of British hardwood’, held in the Confor tent, Charlie discussed the findings from the Grown in Britain WoodStock project, part funded by Innovate UK, that shows we could supply more of this timber from the UK. Attendees at the event included representatives from Defra and the Forestry Commission. For more information on the event and to book to attend click here>
Charlie Law presents at Ecobuild 2016 – 8 March 2016
Charlie Law presented at Ecobuild 2016, the largest sustainable construction event in the UK, on the 8th March. In the session entitled ‘Faster, Greener, Cheaper – Making the most out of wood in construction’, held in the Design CPD Hub, Charlie discussed the benefits of timber in construction and showed where your wood is actually being sourced from. He also discussed some of the initial findings from the Grown in Britain WoodStock project, part funded by Innovate UK, that shows we could supply more of this timber from the UK. For more information on the event and to book to attend click here>
Charlie Law presents at Resource 2016 – 10 March 2016
Charlie Law presented at Resource 2016, the largest Circular Economy event in the UK, on the 10th March. In the session entitled ‘Demolition innovation – can we operate more smartly to reduce waste?’, held in the Build Circular Hub, Charlie discussed how construction could move towards a more circular economy business model that will aid deconstruction and reuse. He also looked at how Pre-Redevelopment Audits can help in existing buildings. For more information on the event and to book to attend click here>
Charlie Law in Copenhagen – 26 January 2016
Charlie Law presented to the Danish Go2Wood Group, run by Chora Connections, on the 26th January in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Charlie presented on the success of the Grown in Britain and Wood for Good initiatives in the UK, and gave advice on how Denmark could promote building more with wood and supply more of the wood from home grown sources. For more information on Go2Wood click here>
Charlie Law presents at CIOB Conference – 24 November 2015
Charlie Law presented an Introduction to Constructing the Circular Economy at the Chartered Institute of Building’s International Inspiring Construction event at the QEII Conference Centre in London at the end of November. The session covered the basic principles of the circular economy and how these could be applied to construction, along with examples of the business models that will need to be implemented to achieve this. For more information on the event and to book to attend click here>
Charlie Law speaks at European Environment Agency – 29-30 October 2015
Charlie Law formed part of the panel discussing the role of sustainable forestry in the transition to a circular economy at a workshop organised by the European Environment Agency at their offices in Copenhagen. The session discussed how sustainable forest management could ensure future supply, the role bio based plastics in replacing non-renewable sources, and how we should be promoting renewable materials such as timber at the same level as recycled materials when procuring products.
Charlie Law speaks at RWM 2015 – 16 September 2015
Charlie Law formed part of the panel in the Circular Economy Connect theatre at RWM2015, to discuss circular economy solutions in construction. In addition to Charlie, the panel consisted of Jamie Agombar from the NUS, talking about the Philips pay-per-lux model, Duncan Baker-Brown from BBM Sustainable Design, talking about their waste house, and Graham Winter from the EA, discussing the legal implications.
Charlie Law comments in Construction Manager – 1 March 2015
Charlie Law comments on the availability of home grown timber in this extensive article in Construction Manager, the magazine for CIOB members. The piece covers the over-specification on softwood, availability of hardwoods, and how British timber should be be used for more than just pallets and firewood. Read the full article here.