Reduce, re-use, recycle. A simple mantra, but one that’s hard at work in our business across 400 different contracts. We’ve a long way to go, but we’re getting there.

Locally, we put in place tightly monitored commitments to reducing volumes of waste to landfill. For example, we will typically re-use 10% of materials on site, and recycle 80% of material from skips. We work with our local sub contractors and supply chain to ensure they’re performing well. Our staff are trained to reduce material usage, prevent pollution and come up with new improvements.

Thinking sustainably often means thinking locally. Where we can minimise transport and packing, we do so. Where we can source from local businesses, we like to do so – for example, we prefer to source timber from local merchants.

Sometimes it’s a case of just tidying up. We recently ran a clear up on the Halgarth Estate in Gateshead with the fire brigade and Gateshead Housing Company. After a lot of work and fourteen skips, things looked better for that estate.