Call for industry to define future sustainability goals
Campaign gives industry opportunity to define the 2017 Ecobuild event programme
Ecobuild organisers are calling on professionals across the built environment to redefine sustainability as part of a campaign to explore how the construction sector conducts business in 2016 and beyond.
The organisers of the UK’s largest exhibition and conference for construction, design and energy in the built environment are asking the industry to answer the question: what does sustainability mean now, and in the future?
“Sustainability is still very much on the agenda – in fact, a recent poll of over 2,000 industry figures[1] found that sustainability was at the top of their list of interests, above construction, architecture and technology,” says Martin Hurn, brand director for Ecobuild.
“We’ve seen the Government withdraw financial incentives for green products and the renewables sector, but that shouldn’t affect our progress. Sustainability means so much more in 2016. We need a shared understanding of the sustainability drivers and objectives for every stage of the specification and supply chain. Then we can work together more effectively to deliver buildings and places that are energy efficient and enhance quality of life in a cost effective way.
“The #SustainabilityIs campaign will focus on the business case for sustainable construction from a macro level and the delivery of construction processes, through to how places, buildings and infrastructure are designed and used by occupiers and communities. We’re asking the industry to define a set of common sustainability goals for the future. I urge everybody to unite to help us do this. With over 33,000 professionals attending Ecobuild, it’s the perfect platform for industry collaboration.”
From today, Ecobuild will begin canvassing built environment professionals – from architects and designers, to contractors and engineers – to get their views on the evolution of sustainability and what it should stand for. Responses and questions submitted via #SustainabilityIs will contribute to an industry-wide roundtable discussion on 22 June that will be chaired by Julie Hirigoyen, chief executive of the UK-GBC. 
The roundtable panel will comprise high profile figures from housing organisations, local government, manufacturing and built environment sectors, including the Construction Products Association, BRE, Marks & Spencer, and Institution of Civil Engineers. Key outcomes of the debate will be shared at an event at House of Commons later this month and published by Ecobuild.
The outcomes of the #SustainabilityIs campaign – including the roundtable – will come to life at Ecobuild 2017 (7-9 March, ExCel London) and be used to shape the conference programme, content and experience of the event. An industry manifesto for sustainability will be published following the show.
Sustainability questions can be contributed now via www.ecobuild.co.uk, or via social media using #SustainabilityIs.
[1] Survey of 2,111 respondents conducted in April 2016 by MORAR Consulting