Reduce resource use intensity in line with a circular economy
Being more efficient with our resources in order to deliver the new affordable homes the country desperately needs is a key part of our approach to sustainability. We have set a series of targets in the years to come, to focus our long-term aim of utilising far fewer resources, recycling and reusing materials in line with the principles of a circular economy.
Building homes without any thought to the impacts on finite resources is not an option. We’re working with our supply chain to reduce waste, use less energy and water, and increase recycling and the use of sustainable materials.
Circularity at Merton
Ensuring materials and resources remain in use for longer at our projects is now firmly embedded in our operation, underpinned by our Circular Economy Strategy. We and partners are committed to establishing process improvements, new business models and redesigns of products and services wherever possible.
These principles are at the heart of our Merton regeneration project, which is delivering sustainability benefits from the very beginning to the end.
Our inclusion of pre-demolition audits at Merton is ahead of the curve, with the Greater London Authority only recently introducing an expectation of developers that such checks should form part of a project. A pre-demolition audit of the very first phase of our regeneration of High Path in South Wimbledon in 2018 helped maximise the value of materials recovered from the demolition process and minimise the transportation of waste for offsite processing or disposal. Every phase on the regeneration of the three Merton estates has followed suit.
As existing Merton residents move into their new homes at the regeneration, old white goods are being donated to local families in need. Our regeneration team is supporting residents in donating hundreds of fridges, freezers, ovens and dishwashers to local charities to make way for cutting-edge and energy efficient appliances in their new homes.
Similarly, old UPVC windows from Merton homes are being recycled to make new windows, guttering and other building products. At our Ravensbury estate, we and construction partners joined forces with Eurocell – to whom nearly 5,000kg of UPVC material was given to be fully, rather than partially, recycled for alternative uses.
