30 by 30

Winstone Wallboards is developing a carbon reduction plan to help tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time - climate change.

Dubbed ‘30 by 30’, the company vows to deliver a 30 percent carbon reduction by 2030, in line with Fletcher Building,  who as a group have committed to reduce emissions 30 percent by 2030 from a 2018 base year.

The move highlights Winstone Wallboards’ resolve to play its part in helping to create a sustainable future, not just for the business itself, but for all New Zealanders.

That includes helping to keep climate change below 2°C, which is what the latest climate science believes is necessary  to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. More specifically, we need to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre- industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

These science-based targets provide companies with a clearly defined pathway to future-proof growth by specifying how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Winstone Wallboards’ Sustainability strategy focuses on what is most important to the business and to others - people,  communities, and customers - and where actions will lead to meaningful change. Importantly the strategy extends on  what the organisation has already put in place and deepens its commitment to people, sustainable products and carbon emission reduction.

Designing Out Waste

Winstone Wallboards is working hard  to help the building industry reduce its construction and demolition waste, which according to the latest figures could account for around half of all waste generated in New Zealand.

The company has been involved in a study focusing on minimising the generation of waste as a more sustainable alternative to dealing with it once it hits the floor. The project tested the feasibility of slashing the generation of timber and plasterboard waste by 20 to 30 percent. Its findings? Yes, it’s an achievable target – but progress could be slow.

That’s because despite the fact there is growing awareness around construction waste, there is still a general lack of understanding about the actual amounts of construction waste produced (typically more than what is factored into a  project).

Not only that, but New Zealand’s efficient waste management industry reduces the visibility of the issue at a project level. But it’s still a goal worth striving for. Fortified by the knowledge gained during the study, Winstone Wallboards is now  exploring fresh ways to boost sustainable waste reduction in the design and delivery of building projects.