The value of green work practices
15 June 2022
Ways in which new technology can be used to help contractors and organisations meet their net zero obligations were discussed last week at a COMIT Project seminar hosted by JCB at its World Headquarters in Rocester and sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals.
Entitled 'Here, Now and the Future’, the event was the second of its kind held this year by the COMIT (Construction, Operations, Maintenance through Innovative Technologies) organisation which focuses on improving dialogue within the industry and the adoption of new technology.
Stuart Young of COMIT cited a McKinsey & Co report following the COP26 environmental summit suggesting that the world needed to spend $9.2 trillion annually for 28 years to meet net zero targets, but the current level was $5.2 trillion per year meaning that further impetus was needed in order to adopt new techniques becoming available.
Some examples were outlined by Paul Williams, JCB sales manager for electric machines and industry solutions. The manufacturer has developed various battery powered products (above) to help users meet the government’s target of achieving net zero by 2050, including the 19C-1E mini excavator, the 30-19E forklift, a range of scissor lifts, battery power packs and the 525-60 Loadall telescopic handler.
JCB has also invested £100 million to develop machines powered by hydrogen internal combustion engines, particularly for heavier plant with more demanding duty cycle requirements.
Jackie Cuthbert, head of social impact at Sunbelt Rentals, described ways in which businesses could clearly show clients the value adopting environmentally friendly ways of working. For example, extracting data from telematics systems on machines could demonstrate reductions in fuel usage and emissions.
Jackie also explained how using a system of National TOMs (themes, outcomes and measures), a framework for calculating and reporting social value, environmental and social benefits could be assigned a proxy figure reflecting a monetary value. These include NT31 for quantifying CO2 emission savings, and NT53 for social benefits.
These figures could be used on tender documents and reports to give a numerical value to environmentally friendly practices and to reflect wider ESG commitments.
