Spec Finish

Feature 10 www.thefis.org Meeting net zero pledge targets Perkins&Will’s internal Net-Zero Champions team regularly connects with the market to understand new solutions, challenge ways of thinking, and explore opportunities to work together. They have played an active role in the formation of the new FIS Sustainability Working Group. The Net-Zero Champions group hold fortnightly internal sessions to continuously share knowledge, reporting back on elements of investigation and what the wider studio can learn from. This directly ensures the target set out in the manifesto of at least one section of a project, whether it’s location, package or finish, is net zero by design stage two. Led by Adam Strudwick, principal of the interiors team, the studio launched a consultation process in Q4 2020 with key clients, including JLL, Citi, and Unilever, major contractors such as Mace, ISG, and Overbury, as well as supplier partners, subcontractors, and furniture manufacturers, Knoll, Senator, and Orangebox, amongst others. The consultation helped Perkins&Will better understand the challenges and opportunities for holistically delivering net zero embodied carbon interiors and ensuring that its supply chain meets net zero requirements. Talking to SpecFinish about this work Adam said: “We have to start thinking differently, rather than thinking of buildings or interiors as the end product, we have to think about every building as a kind of DIY store for the next project and the next project and the next project. “We are keen to work withmembers of the FIS through this database and wider initiatives to help realise our values and support transformation of the supply chain as a whole.” Other goals outlined in Perkins&Will’s Net-Zero Now manifesto are also on track and include: • By 2030, all projects will be net zero embodied carbon as demonstrated through a whole life carbon assessment (LCA). • All projects now have a whole life carbon assessment and a carbon budget developed at concept design stage. • Circular design guidelines are published for use on all interior projects. • All materials require completed environmental product declarations (EPD) with circular design commentary. FIS SustainabilityWorking Group Adam has been an active participant in the FIS Sustainability Working Group. This new group is looking at informing design, increasing understanding, setting targets and standardisation (aligning this to the Construction Leadership Council’s CO2nstruct Zero work), creating a sharing network and communicating innovation and providing inspiration. A first action of the group was to create a new sustainability hub on the FIS website: www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/ sustainability Speaking on the launch of CO2nstruct Zero at ConstructionWeek, the Construction Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, said: “So in the year when the UK will host COP26, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has launched the CO2nstruct Zero initiative. This sets a framework within which the industry can work to reduce its carbon emissions. It includes commitments to decarbonise the materials the sector uses; adopt zero emission plant and machinery; improve the way we design and deliver buildings to make these better more energy and heat efficient; and improve construction operations to achieve zero waste.” www.perkinswill.com www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk A recent manifesto published by Perkins&Will identifies that fit-out is responsible for 40% of energy consumed by a building. A key figure to target improvement identified in this report is that 300 tonnes of fit-out material goes to landfill every day. In May 2021, the Government laid legislation for the UK’s sixth carbon budget, proposing a world-leading target which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. ConstructionMinister, Anne-MarieTrevelyanMP