EFFC Road Map Session-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The Sustainability Working Group workshop presents a roadmap and practical guide for reducing carbon emissions in geotechnical companies. It defines sustainability as meeting present needs without compromising future generations, and highlights the urgency of action: human influence is warming the climate, while construction, buildings and transport account for a substantial share of emissions. Foundations typically represent 15–23% of a building’s embodied carbon.<br /><br />Companies face growing pressure from legislation, client and investor requirements, employee expectations, financial risks and the need for resilient infrastructure. At the same time, decarbonisation offers opportunities to improve efficiency and deliver more sustainable projects.<br /><br />The recommended approach is to measure emissions, create a reduction plan, report progress, review results and adapt. Emissions should be considered across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, including fuel, electricity, travel, materials and transport. The preferred carbon hierarchy is to eliminate emissions, reduce them, substitute lower-carbon alternatives, and compensate only for remaining emissions.<br /><br />Practical measures include reducing cement use, designing cement-free or lower-carbon solutions, reusing materials, cutting waste and fuel consumption, connecting sites to the electricity grid, improving equipment efficiency, and educating site teams and designers. Whole-life carbon should be considered in asset design.<br /><br />Case studies demonstrate meaningful savings through lower-carbon cement mixes, bentonite recycling, thinner diaphragm walls and biofuel use. In one example, design changes reduced concrete, reinforcement and working days; the HS2 C1 case reported substantial carbon and cost savings.<br /><br />Progress can be tracked using the EFFC DFI carbon calculator and company reporting. Suggested indicators include Scope 1 and 2 emissions, emissions per revenue, and optional Scope 3 measures such as business travel, waste, material transport and materials.

Keywords

sustainability

carbon emissions

decarbonisation

geotechnical companies

embodied carbon

Scope 1 2 3

carbon hierarchy

low-carbon construction

whole-life carbon

EFFC DFI carbon calculator