Project Mangers – how to ensure that suppliers are meeting your project’s sustainability criteria

One of our core principles at Sibley Grove is working collaboratively. Whether it’s a luxury retail or hotel project, I’m often sat in a room full of very skilled people, each of whom have their own area of expertise. It’s fascinating to see how these perspectives, skills and disciplines come together to create exceptional projects.

I think one of the most difficult roles in the room is project management; the person who needs to be across every aspect of a project, have a level of technical knowledge, exemplary problem-solving skills, as well as an abundance of patience and diplomacy. Of course, the projects we work on are underpinned by sustainable design practices. And part of my role is to support the project manager (and wider team) in understanding why we’re recommending certain materials and suppliers, and how these fit with the design and ethos of a project.

I think it’s helpful to share this kind of knowledge so that we can raise standards across our industry, so I’ve listed here some of the ways in which project managers and contractors can check the validity of a suppliers’ sustainability/social credentials.

This aspect is particularly important when discussing value engineering. In our industry, we often focus on surface-level factors like perceived quality, aesthetics and cost. However, in our pursuit of cost reductions, we can overlook deeper-rooted values that may be harder to identify but are equally significant.

Choose Certified Sustainable Materials 

There are globally recognised sustainable certification schemes and whilst not perfect, they do offer a level of assurance that the materials have been responsibly sourced. The main ones to look out for are:

·       FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for wood and timber products

·       Cradle to Cradle Certification for products meeting circular economy and sustainability standards

·       LEED Certification for materials contributing to green building standards

Conduct Supplier Audits and Transparency Checks

Companies are becoming increasingly transparent about their supply chains and the more we ask for evidence, the more pressure we put on them to clean up their act. You can ask suppliers for:

·       Environmental and social responsibility reports which should evidence transparency throughout the supply chain.

·       Conduct regular third-party audits or request audit reports to verify that suppliers are compliant with labour and environmental law

·       Look for suppliers that publish their Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and sustainability reports

Check for Forced Labour-Free Certifications

True sustainability looks at a holistic picture where material suppliers consider their impact on both people and planet. There is no room and no excuse for forced labour in supply chains and there are several regulatory bodies who certify ethical working conditions:

·       Fair Trade for fair wages and labour practices

·       SA8000 (Social Accountability International) for ethical working conditions and forced labour elimination

·       Global Slavery Index or KnowTheChain where you can cross-check suppliers with to ensure compliance with anti-slavery standards

Prioritise Locally Sourced Materials

Depending on the scale and location of the project, this can be trickier, but it’s also one of the best ways of ensuring the progeny of materials, when you can see how and where they are made, and by whom. Using local or regional suppliers reduces carbon emissions linked to transportation and supports local economies and communities. Locally sourced materials are more likely to be transparent and traceable, which simplifies sustainability and labour verification processes.

Incorporate Reused or Recycled Materials

There are many contexts where prioritising reclaimed, recycled, or upcycled materials pays dividends, not just in terms of sustainability, but also financially. It can be a win- win approach. Reusing materials can have a lower environmental impact and contribute to a circular economy. It’s also good to work with suppliers who have take-back programs or use post-consumer recycled content.

Challenge Designers on the Extent of Strip Out

When starting a project, one of the most significant decisions a client faces regarding carbon impact and finances is the extent of the strip-out. At this stage, you determine the amount of waste generated, the need for new products and materials and the required capital investment for replacements. Defining the scope and size of the strip-out is where you can make huge carbon and financial gains.

This list is by no means exhaustive and finding truly sustainable materials can take a lot of research and deep product knowledge, not just of the material itself, but also how it works in certain environments, how it can be fixed or used in different settings, and how it wears and degrades over time. As a design and architectural studio, that’s where our expertise comes in. If you’re a project manager for a luxury hotel or retail fit-out or refit, firstly, hats off to you! And secondly, we’d be more than happy to support you in meeting your projects sustainability goals.