We manage the environmental impact of our work by:
- reducing emissions
- diverting site waste from landfill
- engaging subcontractors with similar goals.
Our environmental goals
We divert site waste from landfill by recycling and reusing whenever possible
Surfboards and skis repurposed as palings at Waitākere Resource Recovery Park
Building in a sensitive environment at Pukehina Surf Club
Our current environmental priorities
We have a plan in place to ensure Cassidy Construction is a leader in sustainability and carbon emission reduction within the New Zealand construction sector. Our mission is to support all our people, in every aspect of our business, to identify and prioritise opportunities for environmental sustainability.
We work with external experts to understand the impact we have on the environment and come up with ways to manage that impact.
Our current focus is on reducing our carbon emissions and reducing the waste we send to landfill. Our Building Positive Change sustainability strategy sets out measurable goals in both areas, backed by detailed action plans. These include engaging with our suppliers to minimise waste, repurposing and recycling materials in projects, planning our transportation to reduce carbon emissions, and evaluating compostable options.
Working on carbon reduction
We set our sustainability goals annually in accordance with Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) sector-specific guidance. We use Toitū emanage software to track and report on our emissions monthly. Toitū’s external auditors verify our carbon emission reduction status on an annual basis. We favour subcontractors who can demonstrate similar carbon reduction.
Diverting waste from landfill
Our Building Positive Change strategy sets out our goals for diverting site waste from landfill across our projects through greater reuse, recycling and repurposing. We use the Mutu repurposing programme to find homes for surplus materials, and work with subcontractors to reduce their waste on our projects.
Q&A
Q: What environmental challenges are particularly relevant to civil work and how do you manage them?
A: The nature of civil work means we interact closely with the physical environment. Some of our more complex projects require us to take into account a variety or combination of sensitive environments, such as working within streams or kauri dieback protection areas, or within the habitats of lizards and birds. We manage this by developing thorough environmental management plans and working collaboratively with specialist consultants. Constant consideration of the environment and regular checks and auditing ensure we maintain a high standard. We understand and appreciate the importance of the environments in which we work, and our people take pride in looking after them.
Q: How does Cassidy Construction’s experience and expertise in this area make life easier for your clients?
A: Through regular work for repeat clients, we often find ourselves as part of a team with familiar people, such as environmental consultants and arborists. Because we have worked closely with them in the past, we understand their requirements and expectations. This means we can propose practical environmental controls that require minimal fine-tuning – allowing our work to proceed efficiently with a high level of protection for the surrounding environment.
