How to achieve Zero Avoidable Waste and run leaner construction projects

A lot has happened since February 2020 when the Construction Leadership Council published the Green Construction Board’s (GCB) report recommending ‘Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction – What do we mean by it and how best to interpret it.’

They start with the definition:

Zero Avoidable Waste (ZAW) in construction means preventing waste being generated at every stage of a project’s lifecycle, from the manufacture of materials and products, the design, specification, procurement and assembly of buildings and infrastructure through to deconstruction. At the end of life, products, components and materials should be recovered at the highest possible level of the waste hierarchy, i.e. reused before being recycled, whilst ensuring minimal environmental impact.

Since then, with the backdrop of a global pandemic, inflation crisis, material shortages, transportation problems, energy issues and the BREXIT fall-out… GCB in collaboration with DEFRA and BEIS has gone on to launch a ‘Routemap to Zero Waste in Construction – increase efficiency, save carbon, save cost’.

Among the points made, the press release highlights ‘avoidable waste’, a subject the team behind BuildingWorks feels strongly about.

The Green Construction Board Routemap

The routemap, an interactive infographic indentifying aims, actions, context and guidance, states under the heading of ‘Design out waste’:

At project level, contractors and quantity surveyors, reduce the wastage allowances that are set for materials and do not over order.

The BuildingWorks integrated software platform is all about getting it right first time to avoid errors that will result in wasteful rework. And let’s face it; with the shortages the industry is facing, there aren’t enough materials to go round for rework, zero waste targets aside.

The software’s digital library has almost 10,000 rates and 15,000 objects. We’ve packed each one with 2D and 3D geometry descriptions of the product, plus U-values, sizes and branding. They’re all available from the UK’s leading manufacturers, each one costed and regularly price checked.

It cleverly integrates data-rich model and project information databases to build a virtual representation of a project and all of its assets. And this applies whether you’re building a housing development, a one-off new build or an extension. You can test the feasibility of a project in terms of cost and energy efficiency.

The idea that digitising your business requires a big budget, a large team and loads of training time is very out-dated. This is a ‘better, leaner way of working’. It allows all businesses to benefit from the practical aspects of BIM built into the software, a more disciplined way of working, the sharing of information, and in turn, improved productivity and profitability.

BuildingWorks plays its part in achieving zero avoidable waste

This award-winning estimate and design software:

  • Saves you time designing, specifying and pricing the project
  • Reduces staff costs – time saved avoiding data re-entry
  • Reduces the costs of alterations and rework
  • Avoids errors and information loss
  • Reduces actual construction costs by
      • specifying the building plan effectively at the outset
      • ordering materials more smartly
      • delivering the project on time.

BuildingWorks has been hailed a game changer.  It meets the needs of SME construction companies through to house builders, as well as developers, surveyors, architects, offsite manufacturers and higher education.

This ‘joined up thinking’ puts an end to the fragmented approach to construction. And it bodes well for the Green Construction Board’s Routemap to Zero Waste.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

So for a fully supported instant 30-day trial of this integrated design and estimating process visit our download page.

Or to discuss lean working further call us on 0117 916 7880, because we have lots to share with you.