The Planet Mark™ to exhibit at UK Construction Week

The Planet Mark™, the certification programme recognising continuous improvement in sustainability, will be exhibiting for the first time at UK Construction Week, next month.

UK Construction Week is the annual exhibition designed to drive forward and promote the construction industry and describes itself as “the largest gathering of the UK’s built environment community”. It is being held at Birmingham’s National Convention Centre (NEC) from October 10th to 12th. The show is expected to attract more than 30,000 participants this year.

The Planet Mark™ will be exhibiting within the Energy Show, one of nine specialist shows, including Grand Designs Live, which make up UK Construction Week.

The Planet Mark™ has chosen to exhibit at UK Construction Show this year because of the growing number of construction companies that are becoming holders of The Planet Mark™ for Business and reducing their carbon footprint, as a result. Main contractors, including Bowmer & Kirkland, Buckingham Group, Higgins Construction and VolkerWessels UK, are achieving year-on-year carbon reductions and wider sustainability goals by engaging their employees in the process through The Planet Mark™, while SME construction companies including Wren Construction and Decorean are also benefiting from certification.

“We will be unveiling latest evidence about the measurable impact The Planet Mark™ is having on companies which stick with the programme year-on-year at this year’s UK Consruction Week,” said Steve Malkin, CEO of Planet First, the creator and custodian of The Planet Mark™.

UK Construction Week will also act as a showcase for The Planet Mark™ for New Developments, a unique certification programme that successfully reduces the whole-life carbon emissions of new developments and fully engages all stakeholders in the project – from the developer and design team, to the main contractor, engineers and suppliers, to the occupier and local community. To date, more than 30 new developments have been Planet Mark-certified this way.

Steve, who will be speaking about tackling whole-life carbon emissions in buildings at UK Construction Week, commented: “Working with leading developers, we know that a significant percentage of a building's lifetime carbon emissions are emitted in the first few months of its life (i.e. during construction), which can be up to 70% for a large industrial development. Working with those same developers, who are showing real leadership in whole life carbon measurement and reduction, The Planet Mark™ for New Developments is helping to create supply chains that can deliver low carbon projects as a standard specification."

Delegates at the show will also be able to visit The Planet Mark™ stand (E444) for advice on how to start, re-energise or drive their sustainability programme forward and get practical help on everything from how to collect carbon data and set targets, to how to deploy new technology and engage people in the process.

Consisting of Build Show, Timber Expo, Civils Expo, Plant & Machinery Live, Energy 2017, Smart Buildings 2017, Surface & Materials Show (featuring Kitchens & Bathrooms Live), HVAC 2017 and Grand Designs Live, UK Construction Week caters for the entire spectrum of the industry from builders, architects, innovators and consultants. It will host debates on the industry’s leading issues and trends, including sustainability, the housing shortage, diversity, how to tackle the skills crisis, building in a pre and post Brexit Britain, and adopting modern methods of construction.

Steve Malkin will be talking about 'How to tackle whole life carbon emissions in your buildings' on October 10th at 12pm in the Renewable Energy Association Theatre. Register your interest here.