Z-squared: using reclaimed materials to develop the Thames Gateway

About the report

This report concludes a six month investigation into the feasibility of widespread use of reclaimed materials in the construction industry.

This report is one of ten in our Z-squared research report series.

Published January 2006
Pages 88

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BioRegional is a registered charity – if you would like to make a donation for this report please visit www.justgiving.com to do so securely on-line – suggested donation £4.00.  

Your support will help us to continue developing vital solutions for sustainable living.

Introduction

This report concludes a six month investigation into the feasibility of widespread use of reclaimed materials in the construction industry, with particular reference to the rapid expansion of construction projects in the Thames Gateway region east of London. The widespread use of reclaimed materials in construction is considered to be one of a number of strategies that will be required if the UK is to reduce its environmental impact and reach a balance of sustainable activities across all sectors.

The report looks at the current state of the reclaimed materials industry and it investigates the potential for setting up of a series of large reclaimed materials facilities that can cater for high volumes and offer real convenient alternatives to virgin products.

The investigation has been carried out by BioRegional Reclaimed, a trading / consultancy company specialising in reclaimed construction materials. We work with construction professionals who wish to use reclaimed materials and we source and deliver those materials. We also work with demolition contractors and salvage companies building up supplies and supply chains of usable material.

BioRegional Reclaimed is a hybrid company in that we are both ethically and commercially driven. Our core reason for existing is ethical and environmental, to find practical and viable ways to increase the use of reclaimed and so reduce the environmental impact of our way of life. However, in order to deliver this, we need to be able to offer cost effective reclaimed solutions that compete successfully in the market place.

As such, we have approached this investigation from two perspectives. From our own commercial perspective, we have been looking at the potential for BioRegional Reclaimed to expand and establish a yard or yards to supply on a larger scale. From the wider perspective, acting more in a consultancy role, we have also looked at the broad potential for reclaimed materials to grow and be taken up by mainstream builders’ merchants, building contractors and waste management companies. These companies would have a much greater capacity to bring about change than BioRegional Reclaimed and therefore would achieve greater environmental improvements quickly.

This report is designed to be read by anyone with an interest in this field but will be particularly relevant to:

• Policy makers at all levels of government interested in reducing the environmental impact of the construction sector.
• Local or regional authorities interested in setting up a central facility for reclaimable building materials
• Builders merchants looking at offering more sustainable products e.g. Travis Perkins already offer reclaimed bricks
• Construction teams who actively want to take on a reclaimed agenda on their project and wish to work with us or others from the salvage industry to achieve a high reclaimed % of materials used.
• Waste management and demolition professionals wishing to divert landfill and find high grade re-use for significant sectors of the waste stream
• “Change Bringers” such as the BioRegional Development Group or the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) who are seeking ways to work with industry to make environmental improvements possible.

The study has looked at both supply and demand side, both in a very practical, hands on way. We have been sourcing, extracting, processing and supplying materials to real customers in many material categories. We have been building up on-going relationships with demolition contractors, haulage experts, salvage companies and customers. This report is based on our own experiences and lessons learnt.

Real costs and prices have been used to develop a series of business plan scenarios. A range of proposals are modelled from a virtual trading company with no storage facilities, through small scale mixed product yards right up to specialist mega yards with multi million pound turnovers and the ability to supply 10% of the Thames Gateway requirements. The study looks at both the commercial viability of these businesses and also the relative environmental benefits that these companies would generate.

The work has shown us quite clearly that for reclaimed materials to break into the mainstream and open up significant new markets, there will need to be major changes in construction procurement, in demolition practices and in the reclaimed supply chain.

Of the business scenarios studied, the greatest environmental benefits are derived from the steel and timber specialist mega yards which, as well as being profitable, can save an eco-footprint equivalent to over 4,600 people every year. This represents a reduction in the total impact of construction in the Thames Gateway of 0.8%.

To achieve the same eco-footprint reduction by other means would require some 3 million m2 of photovoltaic solar panels (3,900 BedZEDs) costing £3 billion or else around 5,000 car club cars, each being used by 12 members who have all given up private car ownership.

Download report PDF
........................................................................................................
BioRegional is a registered charity – if you would like to make a donation for this report please visit www.justgiving.com to do so securely on-line – suggested donation £4.00.  

Your support will help us to continue developing vital solutions for sustainable living.