Environment

At Overbury we are committed to reducing the environmental impacts associated with all aspects of our business.

We take a proactive approach in an industry that has traditionally seen environmental improvement as an unaffordable luxury. We aim to achieve this through the implementation of our ISO 14001 certified environmental management system (EMS). Within our EMS we have embedded a number of measures to focus on the following issues. 

Reducing our Carbon Footprint
In order to reduce the footprint of our fit out projects, we have developed a Carbon Footprint Calculator powered by AMEE. The calculator uses the AMEE database – the most comprehensive carbon database available – to generate the carbon impact of any Overbury fit out or refurbishment project. By measuring the carbon footprint of a project, it provides a benchmark for future projects, and enables targets to be set and emissions to be offset.

Improving our Waste Management Practices
As part of a comprehensive review of our waste management programme we have developed partnerships with a small number of waste management contractors which allows us to maintain a proactive approach to recycling and landfill avoidance.

Each of our projects has a site specific waste management plan which identifies, in consultation with the project team, opportunities to reduce reuse and recycle waste.

We work closely with our waste contractors to encourage them to focus on waste streams that have been historically difficult to recycle.  They have innovated beyond the rest of the waste industry to find outlets for our ‘difficult’ waste streams, for example carpet tiles and insulation. 

Sustainable Materials and our Supply Chain
We work closely with our clients and their project teams to encourage the use of more sustainable materials.

For a number of years we have worked with our supply chain on the use of sustainable timber. We have run seminars on how to become FSC/PEFC certified, with a number of our key joinery contractors achieving certification.

In addition, we look at the sustainability of other materials, in particular the embodied carbon and recycled content.

BREEAM, LEED and SKA rated projects
On recent projects we have worked with the project teams on sustainability innovations. These have led to one project achieving the first SKA Gold rated project under the scheme. We were also the contractor on the first LEED Gold office fit out in the country.

In addition, we work on many BREEAM rated projects around the UK, achieving best practice standards in sustainability.