Wates Group has stepped up its efforts to create a more sustainable workplace with three bold pledges.

The firm has committed to eliminating waste and carbon from its operations by 2025, with a further focus on enhancing the natural environment wherever it operates and to increase the value and community benefit of natural environments.

These commitments are part of the company's aim to ensure it does 'zero harm' to the environment.

A number of actions will be implemented to help reach the goals, which include switching to an all-electric commercial vehicle fleet; eliminating single-use plastic from its operations and supply chain; investing in sustainable building techniques; organising sustainability placements for graduate and apprenticeship staff; planting 5,000 trees annually and ensuring that all sites or frameworks deliver at least one nature enhancement project – such as local conservation work.

There will also be a large focus on raising awareness, education and engagement, as well as using data collection to set accurate benchmarks. The company will look to work collaboratively with customers, supply chain and joint venture partners, to find better and more innovative ways to reduce waste and energy consumption and to enhance the natural environment.

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David Allen, Wates Chief Executive, said: "We have established bold, ambitious, deliberately stretching targets for creating zero harm to the environment by 2025 because we believe that by committing to something extraordinary, we can achieve something extraordinary. Together with our partners, we will reduce waste and carbon, and improve our natural environment for generations to come.

"Our industry has made and continues to make an unhelpful contribution to the global climate crisis. We have a responsibility to reduce and eventually to reverse the impact we're having on our planet and are determined that everyone in the Wates Group will do what is necessary to make a real and lasting difference."

John Dunne, Group Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Director, added: "It's no secret that we work in one of the least environmentally sustainable industries in the world. According to the Construction Climate Challenge, our sector is responsible for up to 50 per cent of climate change, 40 per cent of energy usage and 50 per cent of landfill waste.

"At Wates, we know that this cannot continue. We are choosing to take a leading role in reducing our industry's environmental impact. We work with a diverse range of public and private sector partners and businesses of all sizes are part of our supply chain. A key part of achieving zero harm to the environment will be working collaboratively with these partners. Our strategy will focus our attentions and energies on achieving zero waste, zero carbon and positive nature enhancement by 2025; and everyone has a vital role to play in achieving it."

(CM/MH)