04 / 09 / 2024

2019 Landfill diversion rate

2023 Landfill diversion rate

2024 Projected Landfill diversion rate

2019 Waste intensity (tonnes per £100k)

2023 Waste intensity (tonnes per £100k)

2024 Projected Waste intensity (tonnes per £100k)

2019 Landfill diversion rate

2023 Landfill diversion rate

2024 Projected Landfill diversion rate

2019 Waste intensity (tonnes per £100k)

2023 Waste intensity (tonnes per £100k)

2024 Projected Waste intensity (tonnes per £100k)

As a leading provider of affordable and sustainable housing in the UK, Lovell is committed to reducing its environmental impact and enhancing social value. One of the key aspects of this commitment is reducing the amount of waste generated by its construction activities and sending less waste to landfill.

 

This document highlights how Lovell has achieved a significant reduction in waste over the past few years and how it plans to continue this trend in the future. It also highlights the role of the organisation’s supply chain in supporting this goal and the benefits of working collaboratively to find innovative solutions.

Waste Reduction Strategy

Lovell has adopted a waste reduction strategy that is based on the following principles:

  • Prevention: Avoid waste generation by designing for efficiency, optimising material use, and reducing packaging.
  • Reuse: reusing materials and components whenever possible, either on the same site or on another project.
  • Recycling: segregating waste materials and sending them to recycling facilities, or using recycled materials as inputs.
  • Recovery: recovering energy from waste materials that cannot be reused or recycled, such as wood and plasterboard.
  • Disposal: disposing of waste materials that have no further value in a responsible manner, preferably in a landfill diversion scheme.

Lovell has set ambitious targets for reducing waste and increasing recycling rates and it measures the performance by using two key indicators: waste intensity and landfill diversion rate.

  1. Waste intensity is the amount of waste generated per unit of output, measured in tonnes per £100,000 of turnover.
  2. Landfill diversion rate is the percentage of waste that is diverted from landfill, either by reuse, recycling, or recovery.

Lovell partnership’s waste reduction strategy is aligned with the UK government's Construction 2025 vision, which aims to achieve a 50% reduction in waste to landfill by 2025, compared to 2008 levels.

Waste Reduction Performance

Lovell has demonstrated a consistent improvement in its waste reduction performance over the past few years. The table below shows the Lovell waste intensity and landfill diversion rate from 2019 to 2024.

Year

 Waste intensity
(tonnes per £100,000)

Landfill diversion rate
(%)
2019 353.95 96.15
2023 229.05 99.00
2024 (projected) 222.00 99.50

Lovell has achieved a 35% reduction in waste intensity and an overall 99% landfill diversion rate in 2023, this is a increase of 2.85% from 2019.

This means that Lovell has generated less waste per unit of output and sent less waste to landfill, exceeding the Construction 2025 target of 50% waste to landfill reduction by 2024, compared to 2008 levels.

Lovell attributes its success in waste reduction to several factors, such as:

  • Implementing a robust waste management system that covers all stages of the project lifecycle, from design to delivery.
  • Engaging and training its staff and subcontractors on waste reduction practices and providing them with the necessary tools and incentives.
  • Monitoring and reporting its waste performance regularly and transparently, using standardised metrics and methods.
  • Identifying and implementing waste reduction opportunities and innovations, such as off-site manufacturing, and digital technologies.
  • Benchmarking its performance against industry standards and best practices, and seeking external recognition and accreditation.

Supply Chain Collaboration

Lovell recognises that its supply chain plays a vital role in achieving its waste reduction goals. Lovell works with a network of suppliers and subcontractors that provide materials, components, and services and strives to establish long-term, mutually beneficial relationships based on trust, transparency, and shared values.

 

Lovell engages with its supply chain partners on waste reduction in various ways, such as:

  • Setting clear and consistent expectations and requirements for waste reduction and recycling, and incorporating them into contracts and agreements.
  • Providing guidance and support to its supply chain partners on how to implement waste reduction measures and comply with relevant regulations and standards.
  • Encouraging and facilitating the exchange of information and feedback on waste performance and best practices, and recognising and rewarding good performance.
  • Inviting and involving its supply chain partners in waste reduction initiatives and innovations, and providing them with opportunities to showcase their solutions and capabilities.
  • Seeking and exploring new and alternative sources of materials and services that can reduce waste and enhance quality and efficiency.

Lovell believes that working collaboratively with its supply chain partners can deliver multiple benefits, such as:

  • Reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of its projects and operations.
  • Improving the quality and durability of its products and services.
  • Enhancing the productivity and profitability of its projects and operations.
  • Strengthening the reputation and competitiveness of its business and its supply chain partners.
  • Creating value and opportunities for its customers and stakeholders.

Sustainable Practices

Lovell also collaborates with The Pallet Loop to collect pallets and reuse them, significantly reducing unnecessary waste. Additionally, Lovell supports Community Wood Recycling, an initiative that promotes the reuse and recycling of wood materials, contributing further to waste reduction efforts. These partnerships reflect the commitment to integrating sustainable practices and supporting a circular economy.

Conclusion

Lovell is committed to continuing its waste reduction journey and pursuing excellence in this area and aims to further reduce its waste intensity and increase its landfill diversion rate in the coming years, and to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030.

There are further plans to explore new ways of reducing waste and enhancing efficiency.