Investing in sustainable practices in the industrial segment basically consists in balancing financial viability and responsible use of natural resources, prioritizing respect for the environment.
This type of business model tends to be highly scalable, especially because consumers have also become aware of the practice of conscious consumption. In this sense, the importance of sustainability in civil construction is related to the enhancement of a positive image of the company in the market, characterized by disruptive and innovative thinking in the way it operates.
In this article, we will talk more about this and show you 6 sustainable practices that you can adopt in your company in order to minimize environmental impacts and ensure the renewal of our planet's finite natural resources for generations to come. Check it out!
Why should we talk about sustainability in construction?
The importance of sustainable practices in the construction industry goes beyond positioning the company as a brand that cares about the planet and the quality of life in the workplace. Working sustainably in the industry also means preserving the institutional coffers and boosting revenues. This is because in a more sustainable corporate environment, productivity tends to be much higher.
As for the savings in financial resources, this is due to several factors, such as the reuse of materials and installations in retrofit projects and the investment in high-performance solutions at zero energy cost. A good example is the natural lighting and ventilation systems, which we will talk more about in the next topics.
At first, consider that the first step for the industry to become sustainable is to base strategic planning on the following tripod: people, planet, and profits. It is no wonder that this triad became known as the Triple Bottom Line. The term was created in the 1990s by environmental consultant John Elkington, for whom environmental preservation can indeed be linked to revenue.
- In the social sphere, which the author calls people, the intention is to offer a healthier and more humane workplace for employees;
- Já na esfera ambiental, que ele chama de planeta, o objetivo é priorizar o uso de recursos renováveis e reduzir ao máximo as agressões ao meio ambiente;
- Na esfera econômica, por sua vez, está a economia operacional com o uso de soluções sustentáveis e oferta de condições de trabalho mais favoráveis para o desempenho das equipes.
Thus, with productivity on the rise, the company's profitability will also be higher, making it more competitive in the market. In other words, investing in sustainable practices means feeding back a cycle of scalable growth, especially because today consumers tend to prioritize companies that work in an ecologically correct way.
What is a sustainable industry?
We can call a sustainable company any industry that gives priority to environmental preservation and care in its production chain. For this to be possible, it is necessary to concentrate industrial investments in intelligent solutions that work with maximum performance without consuming excessive resources.
Natural lighting and ventilation systems illustrate this scenario well, because they are high-performance solutions that do not consume electricity to operate. Thus, it is possible to ensure thermal comfort and productivity in the industry without costing the company's coffers and without harming the environment.Natural lighting and ventilation systems illustrate this scenario well, because they are high-performance solutions that do not consume electricity to operate. Thus, it is possible to ensure thermal comfort and productivity in the industry without costing the company's coffers and without harming the environment.
It is also worth remembering that the adoption of sustainable practices in industrial warehouses is no longer a mere option, but an urgent need in the global scenario. After all, as we know, production lines in industry are extensive and tend to consume a lot of resources to keep in constant operation. Therefore, balancing the use of resources and worrying about the generation of impacts is of great relevance in the sector.
How to become a sustainable industry?
As we have seen, investments in intelligent technologies are one of the most important steps in the search for sustainability in the industry. Innovation is a key concept in this process, demanding attention from managers with regard to frequent updates in the production chain.
The replacement of old equipment with more modern and economical versions is a good example of this dynamic. In more practical terms, we can cite the "5Rs policy" as an effective starting point for working in an environmentally friendly way in industry. The concepts behind the 5Rs are laid out like this:
- Rethink: it is up to managers to rethink the way the production chain develops and then plan what can be done about environmental responsibility, considering raw material choices and waste disposal practices, for example;
- Refuse: managers must stop entering into partnerships that generate negative impacts on the environment, giving up agreements with companies that do not have environmental certificates, for example;
- Reduce: it is the managers' responsibility to reduce the surpluses in the production line, avoiding waste, adequately disposing of waste, replacing raw materials for biodegradable materials, among other sustainable practices;
- Reuse: an ecologically correct management optimizes the industry's financial resources to the maximum, reusing inputs and favoring the circular economy to generate as little surplus material as possible;
Recycling: it is the managers' duty to recycle liquid and solid residues without causing environmental liabilities; even organic residue recycling practices can be incorporated into the industry's daily routine.
6 practices to make your industry more sustainable
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability in civil construction, check out what you can do in practice to implement more sustainable actions and policies in your company.
1. Use water conscientiously
A survey conducted by the Sebrae Sustainability Center shows that 60% of small businesses (micro and small companies) in Brazil invest in some method to reduce water consumption.
Os caminhos possíveis incluem a instalação de torneiras de acionamento automático, reaproveitamento de água para fins não potáveis, captação de água da chuva, instalação de vasos sanitários com descarga de duplo acionamento, entre outras ações.
2. Properly manage waste
An efficient waste management policy is fundamental in the agenda of sustainable practices in civil construction. Not least because this is one of the sectors that most generates waste of materials in its processes and construction works, not to mention the emission of pollutant gases and unnecessary consumption of electricity.
In this sense, practices such as selective collection, composting of organic waste, reuse of materials, and waste recycling are some alternatives to adequately dispose of waste from the beginning to the end of manufacturing activities.
3. Optimize the electric power system
The expense with electrical energy represents one of the main expenses of the industrial sheet. One of the most effective measures to reduce energy consumption is the replacement of incandescent lamps by LED models. In addition, the investment in natural lighting systems, such as linear domus, has grown a lot in the last few years.
The use of domus, for example, dispenses with the need to turn on artificial lamps in the factory for about 8 hours of work. Another differential is that the solution can be used in conjunction with dimmable LEDs to control the brightness levels of the lamps according to the external lighting, thus consuming as little energy as possible.
Is LED lighting really suitable for industry? Learn about the advantages of LED lamps and understand why this is a sustainable resource!
4. Make the most of natural ventilation
Natural ventilation solutions, such as louvered and Venetian blinds, are also a highlight when we talk about the importance of sustainability in industrial civil construction.
The goal is to provide thermal comfort and improve air quality inside the shed, which makes the workplace healthier, more pleasant, and more economical, since there will be no need to rely on air-conditioning units running all day long.
Besides being a great ally in saving energy, natural ventilation helps reduce the emission of toxic gases in the environment. This is because the exhaustion process that occurs inside the lanterns ensures the constant renewal of the air and the filtering of pollutants such as CO², dust, and other gases.
5. Involve the whole company in sustainable practices
Implementing the culture of industrial sustainability is also a very important step in keeping teams aligned. Make sure you make all your employees aware of the efficient use of resources, that is, using less to do more and better. This move will bring good results not only for the environment itself, but also for your company's coffers.
As mentioned earlier, the sustainable outlook involves seeking innovation in various sectors of your business. In this sense, understanding in which aspects - energy expenditure, waste management, emission of pollutants, etc. - your company can improve is a decisive factor with regard to industrial sustainability.
6. Get green certified
Os selos verdes certificam a responsabilidade social das empresas, atestando que existe o compromisso ético da instituição em trabalhar de forma ecologicamente correta. Como vimos, isso é positivo não só para o meio ambiente, mas também para o crescimento da empresa em si, tendo em vista que os consumidores estão cada vez mais focados no consumo consciente.
One of the most well-known certifications in this scenario is the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) seal, used to certify sustainable practices in industries all over the world.
An excellent way to claim the green stamps is to invest in the smart solutions we talked about in the previous topics, such as linear domes, blinds, and industrial louvers.
In addition to the benefits brought by these systems from the standpoint of electricity savings and quality of life in the workplace, sustainable solutions help the industry to achieve energy efficiency - a decisive factor in obtaining environmental certifications.
Therefore, if you are looking to add value to your industry in the market, know that natural lighting and ventilation systems have a guaranteed return, allowing you to adopt sustainable practices quickly, effectively, and without costing the company's coffers.
Are you up to date on this subject? Take our quiz and test your knowledge about the gains of natural ventilation for sustainability in industry!
