Sustainability
Our approach to sustainability is about considering the future. It is about developing the homes and places of the future without compromising the ability of the younger generations to meet their needs. We consider the long term impacts of our activities and ensure that we take action to reduce them both in terms of running our business efficiently and considerately and by developing sustainable homes and places.
The diagram below outlines our approach to sustainability. Click on each area to see how we promote sustainability in our day-to-day business activities and through the homes and places we create.
Our approach to sustainability
Communities and sustainable living
Our goal is to transform underused land into unique, well-connected and welcoming places where people and communities can thrive for the long-term
Creating communities
We design our developments to strengthen local community, improve quality of life and have lasting social impact.
To do this we use our Creating Successful Places toolkit and have community plans on our large regeneration sites.
Nature
Our goal is to create a net biodiversity gain and make a measurable contribution to the natural environment on every development
Net biodiversity gain
We recognise the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity and aim for all new developments to have more nature afterwards than before.
Climate action
Our goal is to play an active role in tackling the global climate emergency by creating low carbon, resilient homes
Mitigation and adaptation
We are working to mitigate our impact on climate change and have set a science-based targets (SBTs) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
We also incorporate features to ensue our developments and homes are resilient to the most relevant impacts: flooding, water shortages and overheating.
Environmental management
Our goal is to identify and manage environmental risks on our sites. To avoid incidents and reduce the impact of our construction site activities on the environment and local communities
Environmental assessment and management
At all stages of construction, environmental risks and opportunities are considered through a robust environmental assessment process.
We'll continue to have a systematic approach to environmental management and work with our contractors to continue to achieve good environmental management on site.
Resources
Reduce our impact on key resources including water and materials. Design to the principles of circular economy and collaborate with our supply chain to work towards zero waste construction sites
Responsible operations and supply chain
We are working to reduce our impact on key resources including water, waste and paper. We require all our timber to be certified.
We'll continue to work closely with our contractor to use resources responsibly.
Supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
In September 2015, all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted a plan for achieving a better future for all - laying out a path over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. At the heart of "Agenda 2030" are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which define the world we want - applying to all nations and leaving no one behind.
Berkeley Group is committed to helping to achieve the SDGs and recognises that business has to play a very important role in the process.
Although all the SDGs and the targets that underpin them are important and interconnected, it is imperative to focus our efforts on those that are most material to our business and where we have the greatest ability to deliver meaningful positive impact.
We have identified six of the goals as being most relevant to us, based on a review of our business activities and value chain against the goals and their underlying targets. We consider that we have the greatest opportunity to contribute to the achievement of these six goals, particularly through the implementation of the Our Vision 2030 business strategy.
Housebuilder of the Year Award 2020 & 2019
Berkeley Group is proud to be have been named Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year at the Housebuilder Awards for the last two years running.
The accolades reflects Berkeley's leading approach to enhancing nature on all new sites and our comprehensive approach to tackling climate change.
Our Vision
Our approach to sustainability is integrated into our long-term business strategy, called Our Vision. Performance updates on our sustainability-related and other commitments can be found here.
Reports & Case Studies
Key sustainability documents published by the Berkeley Group, including carbon and climate change disclosures, can be found here.
Governance & Management
In order to work towards the achievement of our sustainability objectives and commitments we have a governance and management structure in place.