Why and How to Make Your Construction Business More Environmentally Friendly

The green construction industry is projected to be worth $610 billion by 2027. There are a lot of reasons that eco-friendly contracting companies stand to make bank. They need to find ways to show their commitment to the environment to thrive as demand in this market grows.

Environmentalism has become an even more relevant hot topic issue in recent years as the world has become, as a whole, more conscious of the way our action impact our environment. But is there a reason to jump on the bandwagon besides the obvious PR boost to your construction company?

Construction businesses in particular have become a lot more concerned about lowering their carbon footprint. However, many construction companies haven’t taken adequate steps to be truly eco-friendly. They need to follow relevant trends and prepare accordingly.

And how can you go about improving your ESG strategy?

Why should construction companies become greener?

One big reason for construction companies to become more sustainable is that consumers are demanding more from their businesses now than in the past and they don’t just want more bang for their buck. They expect their businesses to have the same cares that they do.

In fact, 81% of those surveyed by Nielson said they felt strongly that companies should be doing more to improve the environment. Sustainability is also never a bad business model. Adopting greener business practices shouldn’t just save the environment, it should also save you money.

How do we get started?

There are a lot of ways to make eco-friendly construction a priority. Some tips are listed below.

Start small – Begin by implementing recycling into your business plan and promoting it heavily across the business. Try changing out all of your light bulbs with LED alternatives and attempt to cultivate a culture of eco-friendliness throughout the workplace. This means encouraging employees to reduce the use of paper, avoid using materials unnecessarily and reusing material whenever possible.

Take action – Once you’ve installed the basics, consider taking things up a notch or two by only using products made from recycled material. You could also be putting your practices under the microscope and examining areas where it would be feasible to cut back. Cutting back on travel, for example, is an obvious step.

Go renewable – Installing solar panels at your office achieves two things: It’s a symbol to your clients and customers that you are taking things seriously and it will give your building a renewable source of energy. It probably won’t generate enough power that you’ll be able to rely on it 100% but it should at least mean you’ll be using a lot less grid power and it will pay for itself in a matter of years.

Think long term – Establish a long-term strategy that outlines your goals and work to achieve those goals over a number of years. This means setting milestone targets like reducing your carbon footprint by so much at the end of year five and aligning yourself with like-minded individuals who share your ambitions.

Use external help – Many external consultants are able to help businesses improve their carbon footprint and create a plan to improve the environment. Those that specialize in environmental compliance are particularly adept at bringing businesses in line with what is expected of them from a modern environmental perspective.

Ultimately, it’s all of the little things when taken together that are going to make that crucial difference. So, shop local, recycle and think before you act. It’s perhaps easier said than done but it could open up a whole new avenue for your business as an eco-friendly pillar of the community.