SUSTAINABILITY

Our sector provides value to millions of people, but uses many resources in the process. In engineering, a sustainability strategy is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’. Now is the time for change. We are striving to lead our industry to a positive, sustainable future.

Across the Royal BAM Group, we work by a ‘One BAM’ purpose, to build sustainable environments that enhance people’s lives. We use state-of-the-art knowledge, resources and digital technologies, to provide sustainable solutions across the construction lifecycle.

‘Building the present, creating the future’ to have a ‘net positive’ impact on climate change, resources and people, by 2050.

See our sustainable development goals

Our Sustainability Strategy

Across the Royal BAM Group, our goal is to be a net positive organisation by 2050. This means we’ll reduce our negative environmental and social impacts, as well as enhancing our positive impact, to create a positive balance.

We’ll achieve our goal by balancing different areas of impact across three key themes.

• Climate positive
• Resource positive
• People positive

At BAM Nuttall, we have to find solutions to complex engineering challenges. We do this in a way that not only minimises harm to the environment but, in many cases, can significantly enhance it.

• We are reducing CO2 and waste emissions on site and in office, year on year.
• We’ve received recognition for bringing positive change to local communities.
• We manage our projects with a strong focus on environmental impact.
• We collaborate across markets to modernise processes and develop economies.

Climate Positive

We’re working towards a climate positive future - a future in which construction is not a carbon emitter, but a carbon eliminator. By 2050, our group aim is to have a net positive impact on the climate.

To achieve our target, we’ll:

• Reduce our energy usage by going digital and making our operations more efficient.
• Use as much power, fuel and heat from renewable or non-polluting sources as possible.
• Work with our clients and supply chain to reduce their emissions.
• Bring low or zero carbon products and services to market.
• Reduce our CO2 footprint through energy efficiency measures, early grid connection on projects and decarbonisation of our vehicle fleet.

Achievements So Far

We’ve committed to reducing our CO2 intensity by 50 per cent by 2030. We are one of the very first in the construction industry to have our target approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Since 2008, we’ve reduced normalised carbon emissions by 25%, achieving the Carbon Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS) gold standard in 2016. A title we still retain.

We set even more challenging targets to reduce energy consumption by a further 25%, between 2015 and 2020. In 2018, 85% of our total electricity use across the group was from zero carbon sources and 100% of electricity in BAM Nuttall offices is from zero carbon sources.

In 2020, BAM has been awarded a leadership place on the global Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) prestigious ‘A List’ for Climate Change. The award is based on BAM’s climate action and approach to sustainability, over the past year. Out of the thousands of companies that disclosed their environmental impact through CDP in 2019, we’re in the top 2% of high-performing companies! The full news release is available here

Resource Positive

BAM’s goal is to achieve a resource net positive impact by 2050, by eliminating waste over the lifecycle of developments. We make sure our activities are carried out in a way that minimises the impact on the local and global environment. We encourage our clients and supply chain to do the same.

As part of our commitment, we’ll:

• Eliminate wasteful construction practices and build infrastructure that produces less waste.
• Procure materials from certified responsible sources and preserve raw materials and resources over the life-cycle of our built environment.
• Use only certified, sustainable timber to support forest conservation and biodiversity.
• Use products and materials that can be easily maintained, reused or repurposed, avoiding low grade recycling.

Circular Economy

An economy which aims to keep materials, components and products at their highest utility and value, at all times.

To help us build a circular economy, we constantly find new ways to reduce material consumption during the design process. We’ve also increased the percentage of recycled or renewable materials we use.

It’s important that our chain partners are equipped with the knowledge to contribute to the circular economy. That’s why we work with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to deliver information and training, empowering our partners to seek sustainable resources.

People Positive

As part of our strategy to achieve a net positive impact on society by 2050, we provide opportunities for education and employment, and engage with community groups and charities. We plan to:

• Create life-enhancing opportunities to help people to be socially mobile.
• Educate and inspire a new generation of diverse people to join our industry.
• Inspire and motivate BAM people and provide them with opportunities to improve the lives of others.
• Engage in value-adding partnerships with charities.