Our Insights
DAR AL RIYADH INSIGHT #100
Insight #100 Minimizing Construction Waste Supply Chain
Dar Al Riyadh Insights reflect the knowledge and experience of our Board, executives and staff in leading and providing PMC, design and construction management services. Dar Al Riyadh believes in the importance of broadly sharing knowledge with our clients and staff to improve project outcomes for the benefit of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Minimizing Construction Waste
Supply chain. Construction waste minimization continues into the supply chain. All aspects of the supply chain should be examined for opportunities to achieve ESG objectives and to reduce construction waste. Supply chain activities supporting waste reduction include:
- Accurate material takeoffs and equipment specifications.
- Purchased equipment and supplies ESG requirements, including those associated with construction waste minimization (often overlooked), incorporated into specifications and purchase orders. Procurement agreements can prevent excess materials and packaging from arriving at the site.
- Sub-tier (second and third level) supplier ESG flow-down requirements, including those related to construction waste minimization.
- Supplier commitment to low waste measures, including take back schemes.
- Low carbon footprint cements (CO2 curing can also be used after concrete has been cast, creating solid carbonates that also improve the strength of concrete, thus requiring less cement. CarbonCure™ and Solidia™ have developed technologies to use these processes for poured concrete at the site, precast concrete, and cinder blocks.)
- Embedded carbon tracking and minimization associated with procured equipment and materials.
- Limits on uses of emitted greenhouse gases associated with manufacturing processes and cleaning activities.
- Elimination of temporary bracing to be removed and disposed of at site.
- Use of single type packaging materials (versus multiple material types) to promote efficient segregation and recycling at site. Packaging materials would include either all cellulose (wood, cardboard, paper), recyclable plastic, or metal.
- Procurement of items of supply using reusable packaging.
- Minimize loosely supplied materials.
- SKU reduction to limit overordered quantities and future waste streams. Just-in-time and small quantity material contracts eliminate excess materials at the site that could enter the waste stream.
- Increased levels of prefabrication (including full modularization) in a manufacturing environment, thus limiting field assembly activities and associated waste. Increased prefabrication can include spooling of associated home run power and instrumentation cabling and installation of otherwise field-installed piping and instruments.
- Sourcing of pre-cut or precast materials.
- Logistical chain consolidation of shipments to reduce packaging and bracing to be removed and disposed of at site; reduce idling time associated with last mile and site congestion.
- Protection of items of supply during transport and storage.