Social Value in Action
Project Overview
ISG is an international construction services company delivering fit out, engineering and global construction services for local and international customers. As part of a programme of bank branch closures, its client Barclays Bank required ISG to completely strip-out and remove all branded elements of a former bank together with all equipment, fixtures and furniture returning the space to a ‘white box’ retail space.
Refurbishment can generate a significant waste stream which is both costly and bad for the environment. As a business, ISG promotes the sustainability agenda throughout all of its operations, ensuring environments are both protected and enhanced, and communities are supported. It approached Encore Environment to work collaboratively on the project and conduct a Pre-Construction Environmental Audit (PCEA) to identify discarded items within the bank that could be reused and repurposed. This early intervention ensures reusable items are not classified as ‘waste’, so they don’t go through the conventional route of disposal, such as skips and MRF.
Making a positive impact to people’s lives
Following the PCEA assessment, Encore Environment put its award-winning technology ProjectDIVERT to work to connect the reusable items to local community groups in need. As such, a large proportion of the furniture and fixtures have been repurposed by two fantastic charities that supports homeless people. Porchlight is Kent’s largest charity for homeless and vulnerable people and The Dover Outreach Centre, is a social enterprise company that supports homelessness and helps former homeless people back into work.
Working with the ISG site team on the logistics and removal of the items, Encore Environment arranged for electrical equipment, lockers and office furniture to be delivered to the two charities free of charge. The charities were delighted at the donations which will have a big impact on the lives of those that use the services.
Too good to waste – a circular approach
Adopting fresh ways to think about waste management creates economic value in decreased waste costs and preserves valuable resources by increasing the products life cycle. This has a hugely positive impact on the local community groups receiving the donations, and on the environment. Here, ISG can inform its client that it has a zero waste to landfill solution with full end destination transparency, and also saves carbon which is increasingly important as the zero-carbon economy accelerates to meet Government and industry targets.
When two like-minded companies connect, great things happen. ISG has demonstrated how a business can action positive social and environmental change by thinking differently about waste. Encore Environment has facilitated the approach utilising its environmental expertise and technological solution to create real social value in the community and quantifiable data the client can use.
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