Theoretical talk about the recycling of materials, circularity, green construction, etc. will not exist in the same way in five years. Until then, you act and build according to sustainable principles and tools. Both those that are given by legislation, but equally those that will in the future become a competitive parameter in relation to winning projects.
BUILD SUSTAINABLY WITH INTENT
Legislation can be an effective tool when it comes to changing construction's overall CO2 emissions and climate impact, but the future requires more than that. The future demands to an equal extent that you act actively yourself and take a stand. This decision-making has already begun, but if we are to achieve the goals of the future, the turbo must be turned on – NOW! YOU CANNOT BE SUSTAINABLE ALONE. The green transition in construction is not created by individual companies and organisations. It is one that we must prioritise together. Too many projects start out with grand gestures, toasts and dreams, but end with nothing.
“You cannot be sustainable alone. It is a team effort - and it requires leadership. There are many projects out there where there are big green ambitions at the start of the project, but when the project ends, it has been cut so much that only a small withered branch remains. And that's a real shame”
Jesper Ring, CEO, Frame
Therefore, it is also about being realistic from the start and getting the right setup defined - and then working purposefully to achieve it. This is where good sustainability management comes into play. Sustainability management is not a point reduction at a few points in the project process – it is an effort from the first idea until the final construction is completed.
DIGITALISATION SUPPORTS THE GREEN TRANSITION
We look into a future where LCA documentation becomes a mandatory part of the building regulations for all new construction. Therefore, there is also a need for tools that measure and document the environmental impact of construction projects from the early design phases to final documentation.
There is also a need for tools that make it possible to visualise product and material selection in the early stages, so that this green direction is prioritised from the start. Because when function, aesthetics and climate goals have to come together in a higher unity, it can be difficult to see the consequences of the individual choices and how they affect the building's CO2 footprint.
“At Symetri, we have no doubts. Digitisation supports the green transition and is the driving force for sustainable construction now - and in the future. It is in new technology with a focus on LCA and material selection that the green solutions are found.
DIGITAL TOOLS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
There are already many digital tools in the construction industry that can make life easier for construction professionals and help achieve the sustainable goals for the project. The challenge is to spread the knowledge, and to educate and bring up the industry to use them and, not least, to cooperate.
If the entire industry is to deal with sustainability as a natural part of construction in five years, then it requires readiness to change and an increased willingness to use the tools that are already available, rather than trying to invent the deep dish every time.
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