Waste and Resource Use Group

Understanding and managing waste and resource efficiency in the built environment

Over 50 of our Partners and their suppliers collaborate through this group to share best practice and tips on all waste-related activities, discuss problem areas and take action to move towards a more resource efficient circular economy.

Find out more

The current linear economy of ‘take – make – dispose’ – taking resources from the ground to make products which we use and then dispose of – is no longer acceptable.

We must instead move to a circular economy; reducing whole life carbon and based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use and regenerating our natural systems.

The School with its Partners and member companies has an extensive presence and reach. Together we can make a significant difference.

The School’s Waste and Resource Use Group is the forum to help enable this change; taking individual and collective action against waste and inefficiency, including initiatives to encourage supply chains and enable innovative School members to showcase what they can do to help.

How will this be achieved?

The group is working to reduce waste and increase resource efficiency by developing understanding on key issues and priorities. Its workplan focuses on three priority areas:

Mapping and materials development
Procurement and supply chain engagement
Measurement and reporting

The group includes representation from all of the School’s markets and interest areas, including: infrastructure, homes, construction, offsite and facilities management.

A constantly growing range of learning materials are available via the School’s resource library to educate and upskill supply chains, with the aim of developing a common understanding and commitment across client, designer, main contractor, FM service provider, supplier and subcontractor communities.

2024/2025 Waste and Resource Use Group Update

To learn more about the group’s targets and objectives for 2024/2025, download the Business Plan below.

Download the plan

2024/2025 Waste and Resource Use Group Update

Group Outputs:

Explore a variety of the group’s outputs below, including a packaging optimisation report, interactive practical guide for reducing project lifecycle waste, Material Exchange Platforms (MEPs) and partner video case studies.

Packaging Optimisation in the Housebuilding Sector Report

A detailed report by the School demonstrating the opportunities, challenges and practicalities of optimising packaging. With findings and recommendations that will be useful for anyone active in the built environment value chain, this report also reaches beyond the housebuilding sector, providing knowledge, ideas and potential solutions for any organisation interested in optimising the packaging they generate, transport or receive on site.

Download the report

Material Exchange Platforms (MEPs)

Material Exchange Platforms (MEPs) are location based and online services that help excess but usable materials and products to be exchanged from one user to another. This helps reduce both carbon and waste to landfill and can also be a way to deliver social value by supporting local community projects. View the map to find out the locations of MEPs in the UK and to find out more information on donating your unused material.

View the Map

A practical guide to

Reducing project lifecycle waste

These resources help users from all parts of the built environment value chain reduce construction lifecycle waste.

Explore themes and topics for practical examples, learning about the different stages and aspects of a wide variety of projects.

Explore more themes

1. Pre Construction Clients & Design Teams

Select an aim using the menu below

Increasing demand for circularity and more resource efficient build mean that we will need to design buildings with their end of life in mind

Problem Solving and Continuous Improvement

Using Lean for Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement (HS2 Supply Chain School) – workshop

Event or Workshop

Please note: This session is aimed specifically at current and prospective suppliers to the HS2 project.

Beginner

120 minutes

Understanding and managing waste and resource efficiency in the built environment

How will this be achieved?

2024/2025 Waste and Resource Use Group Update

2024/2025 Waste and Resource Use Group Update

Group Outputs:

Using Lean for Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement (HS2 Supply Chain School) – workshop

The State of Building Product Digital Marketing 2019

Design for Deconstruction

Design for Disassembly: TEDI-London Canada Water

DfMA Overlay To The RIBA Plan Of Work: 2nd Edition

The MMC Categories

Case Study: The Forge (Platform Approach)

Visual Management Systems in Construction Sites

How to Build a Lean Culture

Productivity in Practice: Commercial Development

Inclusive Recruitment with Hercules

Embedding Sustainable Procurement Workshop with Speedy Services

Early Engagement Design to save on Materials and Costs

Nudge Theory Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Waste in Design and Engineering

Responsible Retrofit Wheel

Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide

Glass from Glass: Leading by example

Case Study: Neonatal Care Centre

Public sector guidance on the procurement of sustainable products

Procuring Resource Efficient Construction Projects

Circular Procurement Case Study Collection

DfMA – Clients, Value and Procurement

Decarbonising Transport Together (Part 2): Net Zero and Science Based Targets Lunch ‘N’ Learn – National Highways / HS2 Supply Chain School / Network Rail

Resource Efficiency Action Plans

Guidance Note on Steel Reuse

BES 6001 for Responsible Sourcing

Decarbonising Precast Concrete

Guidance Note on Steel Reuse

Saint Gobain’s Zero-Carbon Glass

Soils And Stones Report: Sustaining Our Future By Influencing Change In The UK And Beyond

Case Study: Redrow Recycled Aggregate

Monitoring and Reporting on Workplace Diversity (United Utilities) – workshop

Coping with Stress Webinar

Reuse of Waste Materials Case Study

Material Exchange Platform (MEP) Map

The Really Useful Guide to Construction Marketing