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Supporting the delivery of sustainable infrastructure
Industry clients are facing increasingly tough environmental and social requirements on the largest pipeline of major infrastructure projects for decades.
Project investment over the next 20 years provides the industry with an opportunity to not only improve the transport, energy and utility infrastructure, but also to deliver significant reductions in environmental impacts and improvements in the value that society receives from this public investment.
Clients are demanding more sustainable practices; stakeholders are exerting more pressure and legislation is becoming increasingly stringent. As a result, the demand for supply chains to provide efficient, green and ethical solutions as normal business routine is increasing.
Network Rail is an example of a major client supporting the industry to adopt more sustainable practices.
The rail sector supply chain advocated for a more consistent learning approach across the sector. Supply Chain Sustainability School worked closely with Network Rail, Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and a range of rail infrastructure suppliers, contractors and major stakeholders to develop a series of free learning pathways to be used throughout the sector.
The materials have been selected to align with the priority areas in Network Rail’s Greener Railway Strategy.
Jo Lewington Network Rail’s Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer “Working in partnership with our supply chain is key to delivering our Greener Railway Strategy. The new learning pathways are directly aligned to our priorities as an organisation and the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, our industry wide framework. These free resources are a brilliant opportunity to improve the capability of our supply chain. It is important that we have a shared focus on what we are trying to achieve.’
Further learning and support is available at rssb.co.uk/sustainability where companies can access the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, further sustainability tools, services and learning resources.
“As an infrastructure partner in the School, we believe that working in partnership with our supply chain is the best way to make things happen at scale.”Nathalie Ritchie, Supply Chain CSR Manager, National Grid
With tough UK carbon reduction targets in place, waste in resources provides negative impacts both from an environmental and an economic perspective.
Legislation, Government procurement policies, investor pressure and clients demands are causing organisations to fundamentally rethink their business models and the ways in which they operate. The Infrastructure Group brings together clients, Tier 1 contractors, specialist sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants to work in collaboration to address the unique range of challenges our industry faces today.
Excellence in this area is providing organisations within the supply chain an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competitors and work with more enlightened clients.
Net zero strategies and Science Based Targets
The infrastructure sector has a significant role to play in decarbonisation. In 2019, two-thirds of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the UK came from transport, energy, waste and wastewater infrastructure (1). It’s therefore crucial that client organisations set ambitious decarbonisation targets, but also that supply chain partners can understand and contribute towards achieving these targets.
This report, produced for the Infrastructure Group by Action Sustainability, set out to understand key themes in the carbon reduction strategies of client organisations and asks for suppliers – both to help clients understand where greater consistency and alignment could be created, and to provide suppliers with a simple guide on what they should expect when engaging with these organisations.
Supplier Development System – Creating a Sustainable Supply Chain
The Supply Chain School and National Highways have worked with prime contractor supplier partners to develop a Supplier Development System (SDS), available to all National Highways existing and potential suppliers.
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Employment
FIR Toolbox Talk: FIR Induction
Video
2 minutes
Why Retrofit?
Introduction to Climate Change and Carbon
E-learning Module
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Designing Out Waste- Workshop (Wates)
Event or Workshop
Training and Skills
Introduction to Social Value
E-learning module
Sustainability Assessment