Environmental & Sustainability Statement
We have a passion for conservation that improves the quality of life for future generations.
We will not pretend that our work does not have an environmental impact. Of course, it does. But we do minimise that impact.
True Sustainability
We believe nothing is more sustainable than extending the life of something already built and capable of serving its purpose long into the future. We recognise the importance of environmental and historic protection and are committed to operating in compliance with all legal requirements related to conservation, repair and restoration on heritage and contemporary buildings as well as new commissions. It is our policy to operate with and to maintain excellent relations with all regulatory bodies.
At USL, we strive to deliver sustainable solutions and this statement reflects our commitment to ensuring sustainability is considered throughout our business practices.
We are committed to:
- True advocates of informed conservation and restoration.
- Share our environmental concerns and ensure our supply chain has responsible social and environmental practices.
- Assess the environmental effects of our activities and train all our employees on environmental issues.
- Limit our carbon emissions and reduce our transportation impacts.
- Minimise material waste, energy wastage and the production of waste.
- Promote the use of recyclable and renewable materials.
- Reduce and or limit the production of pollutants to water, land and air.
- Use only non-invasive chemicals.
- Control noise emissions from operations.
- Promote sustainable ways of working and continually strive to review and improve our environmental practices.
- Build, preserve and service it – the right way!
Sustainability Practices: Reuse & Recycling
Considering conservation principles, we seek to reuse stone, brick and other materials (where possible). From our field sites, all ‘redundant’ masonry, rubble, brickwork, timbers and metalworks are sorted into 1-ton bags for collection by companies’ own Hiab crane vehicles when delivering new materials and returned to our workshop/yard in Essex.
These materials are sorted for recycling or re-use:
- Bricks are cleaned, sorted and stacked for reuse on other projects or re-sale
- Timbers and metals are sorted for reuse or recycled for chipping through certified recycling schemes.
- Stonework is sorted and stored for re-use (however if the material has been replaced as part of a project work it is generally beyond re-use in construction or conservation). It is therefore stockpiled and recycled for future use as hardcore or road fill.
- USL is registered as an ‘upper tier waste carrier and dealer’ by the Environmental Agency
- We always prioritise reuse and regeneration over demolition, working to avoid waste to landfill.
- We look to measure and reduce the whole life carbon impact on projects by making sustainable choices.
- We look to champion reuse, repair and regeneration principles throughout our projects.
- We evaluate our projects on our targets and performance.