PLANT PLANET
Sustainability in the World of Plant
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How to achieve sustainability on site? So many brands and companies are practising carbon neutrality, which beautifully brings this article full circle and back to the first of many big words I mentioned… sustainability! The world of construction is hopping on the sustainable bandwagon and doing its bit to reduce its carbon footprint and protect the planet. So, let’s see who’s doing what, shall we? Prolectric Their main focus is off-grid, renewable energy, so already it’s clear that Prolectric adores being environmentally friendly! In fact, they even go as far to say that sustainability is “in their DNA”. With their battery storage units, they’re able to completely remove the use of diesel within their work, which is a huge factor when it comes to reducing the amount of carbon one uses. Their dedication to this makes them the only UK business to have a first-to-market advantage and commitment to sustainability, with a true authentic green focus. Their website even features statistics, showcasing that they have saved 35,027,818kg of CO 2 e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent), 13,184,681litres of diesel savings and £15,012,000 in cost savings! Those are some pretty impressive numbers; numbers that show it really pays (and saves!) to be sustainable! Komatsu Another brand that is striving to lower their carbon footprint is Komatsu. They’ve introduced a sustainability policy, used to express their stance on this matter. They pledge that being sustainable and responding to climate change is an “essential component” of their mission as a brand. President and CEO, and Representative Director, Hiroyuki Ogawa, says “creating value through manufacturing and technology innovation to empower a sustainable future where people, business, and our planet thrive together.” Not only are they keen on spreading the word, but they are also “committed to meeting the challenge of climate change and other social issues, and we will fulfil our social and environmental responsibilities as a global company through our business activities.”
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) With a simple tagline, Volvo CE’s mission is “leaving no-one behind”. Their holistic and sustainable approach is one that focuses on people’s health, safety and wellbeing, taking care in managing the planet’s resources, and supporting the circular economy model. In response to the Paris Climate Agreement, Volvo CE are going the extra mile by committing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, which is a decade earlier than the original Climate Agreement. Not only that, but they are also replacing their usage of fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy, as well as – in a true Bob the Builder fashion! – improving their “reduce, reuse, remanufacture and recycle” approach. All this combined promotes how to get the best results from contributing circular economy. Volvo CE is certainly proof that it works. So, is the construction world giving back to the planet? The short answer to this is: yes! And they’re doing a fine job of it too. But to put more detail into my answer, I think it’s clear to see that, from my makeup wipes conversion to big construction corporations’ sustainability improvements with net zero changes, that collectively, we are making a difference. Like anything, there is always room for improvement and more things to be done. The world around us is a vastly adaptable place, and if we are not adaptable with it, we won’t be able to keep protecting it. And if there’s anything I’ve learned from researching this as well as hearing about it in the news and all around me, it’s that protecting the planet is really in right now. So, we all need muck in and do our bit! It feels wrong if I don’t close this article without mentioning him, so here I go again… When thinking about a sustainable future for the world of construction and plant, just think what would Bob the Builder
do? Because then, you’ll have your answer. #reducereuserecycle
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APRIL // MaY 2025
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