SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
Comment
Steve Millward
‘
The evidence speaks for itself –
in a language our
T
’
readers like
he construction industry is chang- allowed us to set benchmarks and use reporting standard and one that we are
ing at an unprecedented rate. The key performance indicators to provide currently familiar with is the Global
focus on supporting a sustainable the framework for a six month reassess- Reporting Initiative.
built environment has become a para- ment programme. This ensured that We are firm in our belief that while we
mount concern. And rightly so: it has to Jewson, as a company, was sticking to recognise the benefits associated with
be. Although implementing change on a and meeting its targets. The formation of conforming to a reporting standard, our
major scale is never an easy task it is one, the Green Procurement Group, a Jewson- main objective is to ensure that our CR
I am proud to say, that Jewson has led initiative that consisted of leading document is written in a language that
achieved following full ISO14001 industry players at all levels of the supply suits our readership, comprising Jewson
accreditation of its UK-wide 500 branch chain, also supported our environmental employees, our customer base, which is
network. This followed a three-year objectives. Since its inception the group, predominantly the jobbing builder, and
intensive assessment programme. which aims to provide environmental our suppliers. If accreditation was to
While ISO14001 has been awarded to transparency within the supply chain, compromise this objective by alienating
Jewson as a result of its commitment to has achieved a firm com- our readership, then we would have to
implementing an effective environmental mitment from its suppliers, reconsider this route.
management system across its whole including Mansell, Skanska Regardless of the out-
organisational structure, this accredita- and Sisk, to meet the come, what we now have
tion is only one part of series of success- Government-led Strategic is a report where the evi-
ful programmes and initiatives that the Forum for Construction’s dence speaks for itself and
company has implemented. waste reduction targets demonstrates how, as a
Communicating our successes is crucial by 2012. Jewson’s suc- result of hard work and a
in order to stand out from the competi- cessful pallet initiative genuine desire to deliver
tion and the CR report provides the ideal has fed into this, where- best practice, an organisa-
opportunity and forms what is, in effect, by Jewson has max- tion can make significant
the Jewson case study. imised its internal sup- changes to the way in which
Our first CR document originally ply chain to recycle and it operates. The CR report
began in 2005 as a one-page environmen- re-use over 13,000 pal- has changed to incorporate
tal policy document containing two fun- lets each week. our thinking on sustainability
damental principles: Jewson’s commit- Energy management and our recognition that true
ment to its stakeholders and to achieving systems have also been sustainability is not solely
ISO14001 accreditation. In order to do implemented in order to conform to about the environment.
this we had to identify the firm’s major ISO14001 and Jewson has rolled out More importantly, we believe it will
environmental impacts, which included Eco4 diesel engines, in order to reduce continue to change to better reflect the
timber procurement, waste production, diesel usage. latest thinking within the sustainability
energy use and diesel use, all of which With a catalogue of successes under arena. As it stands, the CR report reflects
underpinned our five year plan. our belt, we introduced the idea of sus- what is going on as opposed to what
The plan was in place. We just needed tainability and what this meant to Saint- Jewson, and SGBD UK & Ireland,
to develop and implement initiatives that Gobain Business Distribution (SGBD) thinks is important. This holistic and
would bring about the change required UK & Ireland, Jewson’s parent company. wider perspective on sustainability is
to meet our targets. The result was a firm mandate to devel- required for any business looking to
This was addressed through our mem- op a reporting process that provided a deliver an informative and powerful
bership with the WWF Forest & Trade balanced approach between economic, account of how it is contributing to the
Network, which addressed our timber environmental and social issues. Now communities in which it serves.
procurement policy. Waste production that we have the evidence to produce a
was tackled through the development of powerful document we feel that it is the Steve Millward is sustainability and quality
an ongoing partnership with Biffa that right time to consider conforming to a director at Jewson
SB FutureProof ❘ October 2009 9
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