ESG in the Built Environment

Reporting on environmental management platform Qualis Flow’s webinar

What ESG is not Panel members agreed that ESG (environmental, social and governance) is not a box ticking exercise. Historically, the focus has been on social impact, but the point is to address the three areas in a balanced way. Panel members have noticed a lack of attention given to the environmental and governance aspects.

What is ESG all about?

ESGis the reimagination of a static asset into a flow of resources – a system of systems. In the built environment, it concerns being well informed about assets’ environmental impact, communicating this across the value chain and taking responsibility. It must be integrated into a strategy and portfolio development.

Biggest challenges

Retrofitting buildings to hit sustainability goals will be one of the construction’s biggest challenges. There has also been a focus on embodied carbon across the built environment, but companies must also begin measuring lifecycle impacts of their buildings, and how they affect local ecology and people.

Opportunities and actions

When health and safety became a priority in construction, it required a lot of effort to get the right systems in place. Companies can re-use the same processes to integrate ESG into operations. Staff upskilling and training will be key. Be mindful of your team’s involvement and keep them in the loop. Being transparent, and open to collaboration, is key to making ESG a success.

Access the session recording at bit.ly/3f5QWWP

Contact Qualis Flow at bit.ly/3o3MQ5D or email [email protected] for more information.

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