Message from the NZCB Board

Supporting sustainability in the building industry

Discovering new opportunities and ways we can develop our industry, while helping our customers, has always been important to me.

Since lockdown, I have found more of my clients For example, double glazing used to be twice the cost showing an interest in products supplied and made of single glazing – but now they’re similarly priced. in New Zealand, which is great. However, these quality items can come at an additional cost, which may be prohibitive to the customer, which is not so great. It’s a work in progress. I try to be mindful and make sure I recommend, where possible, building materials that are sustainable and have Another area where we can have a positive effect is with our suppliers. Even small changes add up. Recently, I have been encouraging my suppliers and merchants to make sure the packaging around their products can be recycled. a good environmental lifecycle. To help get the message across, I’ve been handing back In the next couple of years, we are going to see more changes regarding the sustainability of our industry. As you may have seen in the last issue of InHouse (page 20), MBIE is looking to reduce emissions in our industry by improving the operational efficiency of buildings. They are aiming to do this by gradually reducing the amount of energy and water buildings use and packaging my company can’t recycle to the suppliers, so they can pass this back to the original manufacturer. I have also started sourcing from other suppliers whose packaging is recyclable. Some councils have come up with great initiatives, including running builders’ recycling days and recycling gypsum boards to use as fertiliser. improving ventilation and comfort. Reducing the building I was recently sent an article written by a 12-year-old boy about industry’s carbon footprint is also being addressed. just how much waste is produced in the building industry. He As an industry, we should be helping lead this by making recommendations to our clients. Some of our builders are found that up to 40-50% of New Zealand’s total waste going to landfills was made up of construction and demolition waste! already doing this, but more of us need to join and support As part of the survey (www.level.org.nz), he asked builders for them. The more builders who commit to sustainable practices, their ideas for minimising the amount of timber ending up in the more common practice it becomes in the industry, landfills. Some of the suggestions include: making it better for everyone – including future generations. This is our chance to get on board and help develop and • Donating to community groups (untreated timber) shape these changes. • Reusing it for bracing, shutter pegs, joinery, and general packers To help get the message across, • Burning it to generate electricity I’ve been handing back packaging • Repurposing it into a flooring or chipboard product my company can’t recycle to the • Using it as fuel for pellet fires suppliers, so they can pass this back • Having an offcut bin on-site for people to access to the original manufacturer. • Using a skip with dividers for different materials More people are choosing to involve their builder from the start of their house or renovation design. This is an opportunity for us to talk to them, and their architect or designer, about • To reduce offcuts, designing the build to use multiples of whole standard lengths of timber and planning the use of each length of timber to get the maximum usable lengths sustainable options, such as considering room sizes to suit • Correct storage on-site to prevent waste due sheet material size as a way of reducing waste. This can help to exposure to rain reduce the cost of the build, too. Plus, discussing better quality • Allowing for more usage of untreated timber insulation and windows to improve the building envelope where appropriate performance and address internal ventilation would go a long way towards creating healthier homes. If the building • Looking at packaging waste as part of the problem. code were ‘up-specced’ around the above, it would benefit Hopefully, there might be something in the list above that you everyone and help reduce the costs of these items. could look to implement. If we all do a little bit in our own area, it will contribute to positive change within our industry, which benefits everyone in the long run.