| 45 Sue Russell Award plus for team The Winstone Aggregates team was recognised for its continued work on positive biodiversity receiving the Mimico award for Environment and Community at the Aggregate and Quarry Association (QA) national awards. Tree planting at the Wainui School Open day (bottom). Winstone Aggregates CONTRACTING Winstone Aggregates vision is to always leave the environment better than when they found it. To help them achieve this vision, there is a team of dedicated environmental advisors and planners. The team led by Ian Wallace, National Environmental Manger, visits all sites to ensure environmental compliance standards are constantly being met, and driving continuous improvement. “We are guided by international sustainability frameworks with a specific focus on five key pillars” says Ian. • Social and environmental impact, with a particular focus on building internal cultural capability, strengthening relationships and engagement with Mana Whenua across our operating footprint; • Reducing Carbon Emissions in line with a Science Based Target; • Improving our impact on biodiversity by controlling pests and planting natives; • Managing water quality (recycling water onsite and managing discharge quality), and; • Reducing our waste to landfill. Nicola Macpherson, in the environmental team is responsible for sustainability and driving projects and systems to improve this across the country, including looking at how we reduce our carbon emissions as part of achieving positive biodiversity. “Fletcher Building has committed to a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. As part of the Group we take this commitment and the role we play in delivering it very seriously. Our work to enhance biodiversity is very much on the ground, however we are working to align with international best practice and frameworks” says Nicola. “Nicola has been instrumental in the certification of our Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) from EPD Australasia, a first in the quarrying industry for New Zealand”, Ian explains. Winstone Aggregate’s EPD declares the environmental impact of aggregate and sand products using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA analyses the inputs: fuel, electricity, water, explosives and the output: emissions, wastewater, and waste to quantify the environmental impact. The EPD covers the life cycle stages of raw material extraction, internal transport and processing through to distribution to customers. Making it easy for customers to calculate their lifecycle impact on the environment in their projects. “The independent verification of the EPD against international standards gives it meaningful value to our customers” says Nicola. The good work that the Winstone Aggregates team has achieved with the EPD and continued work on positive biodiversity was recognised last year in receiving the Mimico Award for Environment & Community at the Aggregate and Quarry Association (QA) national awards. The EPD sets a standard for the industry and will guide the setting of future targets. Winstone Aggregates EPD will be renewed within 5 years’ time and then will again imbue and reflect changes in technologies used on site to further improve environmental impacts. “The team are constantly planning for what the future will bring” says Ian. For example, they’re currently planning for new and existing quarry sites that will operate with hybrid, electric vehicles and or hydrogen powered vehicles. “It’s a big process for us, engaging on the ground with our teams at each site, because they understand and know their site best. Their input is valued as to how we can work more sustainably site by site. We’re constantly receiving new and exciting ideas to improve” Alongside work to reduce the environmental impact of their sites, Winstone Aggregates also support their local communities, a key value of the business. They manage a community sponsorship fund for over 10 years supporting local events and projects including ongoing sponsorship of Trees for Survival and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. On receiving the Mimico award, Nicola says it was fabulous to be acknowledged by industry peers. “It’s really nice to see the work of the team recognised. “People don’t necessarily associate quarries and sand extraction with leading environmental sustainability practice, but that’s exactly what we’re doing, day by day.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=