Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation recognised for environmental impact at industry awards

Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation is this year’s winner of the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) Caring for the Environment Award.

The company has developed a pioneering approach to sustainability, producing products from recycled plastics that are used to create a new generation of rainwater reuse and green asset technologies that have the ability to transform the resilience and biodiversity richness of the urban environment.

As well as securing the accolade from WCoBM, the company has also been shortlisted for three Business Green Awards: Nature-Based Project of the Year, Employee Engagement Campaign of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year. All three acknowledge its commitment to improve, innovate and inspire stakeholders across all communities of the positive potential of changing design, manufacturing and construction practice.

In 2020, Polypipe launched Green Urbanisation a new, integrated design approach that provides architects, engineers, merchants, developers and the wider construction industry an opportunity understand and broaden their use of breakthrough passive irrigation technologies. By focusing on using recycled products and efficient, net-zero carbon manufacturing processes, the company offering ever-more innovative solutions that achieve greater environmental outcomes. Additionally, the company invests in a wealth of community initiatives to empower everyone to better understand the significant role they can play in protecting the environment.

As a result, Polypipe has achieved a year on year reduction in Scope 1 & 2 CO2e emissions and has increased its use of recycled content in products to almost 80%. Its ‘Wash & Squash’ campaign – educating schoolchildren on the importance of recycling plastic household waste – has seen more than 16,000 milk bottles donated and 23,000 tonnes of UK household waste reprocessed into durable engineered products with operating lives of several generations.

The company has also been integral to the development of a ground-breaking climate and water resilience research roof installed in Manchester. In partnership with the regional water company and developer, the project is building knowledge of how new construction and data technologies can help cities mitigate impacts of climate change and population growth, while enhancing biodiversity.

Ashley Bell, Head of HSQEP at Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation, said: “Our environmental focus is driven from the top; the Genuit Group’s vision cascades to every level from senior management to the newest recruits.

“Our priority today is ethical gain and achieving a greater understanding of how water management is vital in creating a future that better sustains our environment. External drivers include government legislation, such as changes to Sewer Sector Guidance and The Environment Act, and demand from customers who rely on us to help them achieve their own sustainability targets.

“We’re delighted to have been recognised by the WCoBM as a leader in this field and look forward to finding out the results of the Business Green Awards later this year.”