Responsible sourcing

For Carillion, this means considering sustainability as a priority in our procurement decisions.

As demand for natural resources increases, we consider it essential to source materials that have minimal impact on the environment. The challenge is understanding product lifecycles to compare their total environmental impacts. There are also factors, such as safety and cost, to consider.

Our aims include:

using fewer resources through careful project design and increased employee awareness
selecting materials that are not hazardous to people or the environment
choosing products with high recycled content
buying from suppliers who source, package and deliver their products sustainably.

In particular, we are addressing the sustainability issues surrounding timber sourcing. To help reduce illegal, unsustainable logging practices which threaten the world’s most valuable forests and habitats, Carillion has been a member of WWF-UK’s Forest and Trade Network since the company was formed in 1999.

In doing so, we committed to identifying the sources of all our timber and paper products and increasing the volumes of our timber purchased from certified sources. Where possible, we buy timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

There are standards used on all our construction sites to ensure the timber we purchase is FSC certified. For example, at our Southmead Hospital Public Private Partnership project in Bristol, we:

ensure that FSC is referenced on the delivery note, with the chain of custody number noted
arrange training sessions for logistics staff
do not allow timber on site if it does not meet these requirements.

During the tender process, we assessed suppliers’ ability to provide information on the percentage of recycled content and re-used materials planned for Southmead Hospital. This was in line with our commitment to source materials with an overall recycled content of 30% for the development.

In our own product sourcing business in China, Carillion Direct Sourcing, we rigorously apply our Responsible Timber Procurement Policy (668 Kb). In 2010, we successfully achieved full FSC Chain of Custody certification, which allows us to market and sell products as being FSC certified.

Carillion Alawi’s joinery workshop in Oman also gained full FSC Chain of Custody certification, which is particularly noteworthy as timber from unsustainable sources can be widely available in that region.

Carillion Alawi saving the forests

Investing in new joinery equipment has further enabled Carillion Alawi to supply timber products to Carillion and other organisations. Combined with the company’s FSC Chain of Custody certification, this means we can now guarantee that a greater proportion of the timber we use comes from FSC-certified sources. In 2011, we will be installing bar coding technology to track orders and measure material use, enabling us to make further efficiencies.

“Carillion Alawi now has full Chain of Custody certification, meaning we know each timber product’s path from the forest to the consumer, through all stages of manufacturing, sales and distribution. This is a first in the Sultanate of Oman and is in line with Carillion’s aim to be the leader in health and safety, quality and sustainability.”

Nigel Franklin,

Supply Chain Director, Carillion Alawi