Selecting your data
Selecting your data

Selecting your data

icon
In this section, we identify which are the key sustainability variables that can be captured in a construction project. For each variable, we also provide guidance on how you can use these variables to introduce sustainability criteria in the procurement process. As we introduced earlier in the toolkit, this will mainly depend on market capability.

Material use

It is estimated that around 40-50% of natural resources are transformed into construction material, and that as much as 30% of all building materials delivered to a construction site end up in waste. To minimize this, it is important to ensure that the procurement process allows for careful and detailed planning of resource use during the project. In order to promote this, and encourage the use of sustainable materials, the following data should be captured during the project:

‣
Total material use
‣
Reutilisation of available materials
‣
Use of sustainable materials
icon
In a tender process, you can establish the use of materials with certain sustainability standards essential criteria. Another option is to include these variables as part of award criteria, granting the highest score to those projects which, measured in kilograms (or tonnes) use the least amount of materials, reuse the highest amount of available materials, or use the highest amount of sustainable materials.

Vehicle and transport use

It is estimated that construction projects account for the largest share of both global final energy use (36%) and energy-related CO2 emissions (39%). Although not all of these emissions derive from vehicle use, it is also important to monitor and capture the following:

‣
Vehicle use
‣
Vehicle emission standards
‣
Transport use
icon
In a tender process, complying with Euro 3 emission standards can be set as a technical specification for all vehicles involved in the project. To encourage improvement, using vehicles that comply with Euro 4, or 5, can be set as award criteria.

Generated waste

Construction projects, especially those in the construction, refurbishment, and deconstruction stages, involve the generation of great quantities of waste. To minimize and monitor waste generation, the following data can be captured:

‣
Waste generated
‣
Waste diverted from landfill
icon
In a tender process, one of the technical specifications set as essential criteria for bidders can be to divert a specific % of generated waste from landfill. For further specification, a target % of recycled, or reused, waste can also be set.

Supplier details

In order to monitor the economic and social impact of a construction project, data can be collected regarding:

‣
SMEs, local, and women-led companies
‣
Employee data
icon
In a tender process, the selection of local companies, SMEs, or women-owned companies can be favored if there are certain targets that underpin this decision.
icon
Resources Including construction sustainability criteria in tender documents: