The built environment is a hub of economic activities, individuals and families, and society’s cultural heritage. It protects life and health, its inhabitants’ psychological and social welfare, and sustains aesthetic and cultural values.
The built environment has the potential to lead the fight against climate change and enhance the move towards low-carbon and sustainable living.
The construction industry negatively impacts the environment through its activities such as waste from project sites, loss of biodiversity and impact of the building materials used which are neither recyclable nor environmentally friendly.
- Waste from construction and demolition sites is a critical issue for the construction industry since the industry generates a large quantity of such waste even though most of it could be recycled. Construction and demolition waste reduction strategies should start from the early project design stage, through construction and the building operation stage.
- In particular, the construction industry has a vital role in preserving biodiversity, but this is usually not a priority area for the industry. The construction industry can lead the agenda towards the integration of biodiversity at the heart of sustainable development. Biodiversity should be incorporated into the built environment by providing green urban spaces that can contribute to urban biodiversity conservation. New development construction projects should integrate biodiversity schemes such as creating habitats for wildlife by providing nesting boxes, living roofs and landscapes.
- The use of materials with high embedded carbon values and no recyclability, or materials that are not renewable, is highly prejudicial to the measure of the overall building impact in the long term. Additionally, materials that enable the integration of energy-efficient technologies can contribute meaningfully to reducing the energy demand and eventually reducing climate change.
The ability of construction organisations to cope with the journey towards sustainable change requires us to embrace sustainable innovation from project concept to final tear down. We can do this – and we must.
Safal Steel is deeply committed to sustainability
Safal Steel production processes are amongst the greenest in Africa:
- Its production facilities have effluent treatment facilities.
- All the water Safal Steel uses in its processes is purified and reused on site.
- Safal Steel’s production activities produce less than 10 000 tons of CO equivalents per annum.
Safal Steel products also more than meet the grade:
- Its products emit no greenhouse gases.
- Its materials are designed to be naturally cleaned by rain on external surfaces.
- The thermal properties of Safal Steel’s paint system make for cooler buildings in summer, reducing the need for power generated cooling.
- Safal Steel products are 100% recyclable.
Safal Steel is a proud founder member of the Green Building Council of South Africa.
