Read our Sustainability Policy

Here at BWB, we recognise that our planet is facing a climate emergency, and we are committed to playing our part in tackling climate change. We recognised the significant impact the design and consultancy solutions we provide can have on carbon emissions and the environment, and as such will provide meaningful solutions and a continued commitment to pioneer change. 

Our priority is to ensure that all our services look to reduce carbon emissions, through reduced carbon in new buildings and efficient operation of existing buildings, providing environmental enhancement, through environmental remediation and biodiversity net gain, and improving the wellbeing of society and communities, through reduced flood risk and improved air quality.

We are committed to designing for climate change, and a net zero future, providing solutions that support the UKs transition to a low carbon economy and net zero by 2050.

To bring meaning to these words we are putting in place a robust Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy to create a consistent framework and governance structure, setting out clear responsibilities for delivering our core sustainability objectives:

• Net Zero

• Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Design for Climate Change.

ALIGNING WITH THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)

While all 17 SDGs are globally significant, we have identified three Goals, that align with the three core areas of the BWB ESG Strategy:

• Our Pledge to Net Zero is aligned with our commitment to Climate Action and reducing the impact of our business activities.  You can read more about Pledge to Net Zero here. 

• Our CSR policy confirms our commitment to people and society, both within our workplace and the communities where we undertake our projects, and our commitment to Good Health and Wellbeing, Safety, Environment and Quality.

• Our greatest influence is through our project and design expertise, and our commitment to Design for Climate Change and a Net Zero Future. This is reflected through our commitment to Sustainable Cities and Communities.

We are committed to transparent monitoring and disclosure of ESG targets and performance to our stakeholders. We will continue to demonstrate continuous improvement through regular reporting.

NET ZERO - OUR GOAL

In late 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a stark warning. It clearly established that achieving the ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement, limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C, to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change will require action at an unprecedented pace and scale. Deep cuts in greenhouse emissions from the global economy are required by 2030, with net zero emissions by 2050.

At BWB reducing carbon emissions is a key objective both for the design solutions we provide, and our own operations. We have committed to be net zero carbon in our operations by 2050 and have set ourselves the interim target to reduce our Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions 30% by 2025.

For the 2021 calendar year we reported an overall reduction of greenhouse gases of 14%, compared to our baseline year of 2019 (link to report). This is just the start of our journey with further plans in place for 2022 to continue on our journey to net zero. 

The challenge will be maintaining this reduction as the pandemic lockdown measures reduce and we begin the gradual transition back to office-based working. However, we are carefully considering the opportunities to build on the positive lessons we have learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic – such as continuing to utilise virtual technology solutions where practical.

CSR – OUR COMMITMENT

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inextricable links between society and the environment at all levels. This crisis has accelerated our understanding of the importance of health and wellbeing, both for our employees and the built environment.

By bringing CSR under our Responsible BWB Sustainability Vision, we recognise our responsibility to communities and the environment. As well as ensuring we integrate closely with our Health, Safety, Environment Wellbeing and Quality management systems and culture – also being reinforced through our new internal training programme – Propel.

Our staff are central to creating and fostering a unique culture where a caring, inclusive and diverse culture is actively encouraged and regularly reinforced. We are proud to be an Investors in People PLATINUM company and we recognise the importance of focussing on inequalities in our societies – ranging from racial and gender injustice to economic impacts. 

We seek to create a positive social impact through the projects that we work on and our daily operations, recognising our responsibility to communities and the environment.

DESIGNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND A NET ZERO FUTURE

There is no doubt that climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing our society. The area where we at BWB have the greatest influence is through our project and design expertise, and our commitment to Design for Climate Change and a Net Zero Future. For our clients, this means a continued commitment to focusing on creating energy efficient building and infrastructure.

We are growing our environmental and sustainability services, providing the advice and support our Clients need to understand the sustainability challenges that we as a society face. We work closely with our Clients to minimise the climate impacts of new developments, and through our technical design solutions provide low carbon resolutions at all stages of the asset lifecycle. Working with Deetu, our digital marketing and data analytics business, we are developing and delivering the tools to further support our Clients on their own net zero pathways.