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Holcim ViroDecs^TM. A first for Australian Concrete

Holcim Australia (Holcim) has become the first concrete company in Australia to embark on developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its Readymix Concrete.

A range of EPDs, under the ViroDecs^TM brand name, will be developed and registered under the Australasian EPD Programme in early 2019.

The initiative constitutes a major investment in comprehensively analysing and communicating to customers the embodied environmental impacts of Holcim’s Readymix Concrete. Data was collected from across Holcim’s Australian operations, which includes over 190 Holcim concrete batching plants and 65 Holcim quarries in Australia earlier this year, to meet the rigorous data quality requirements in the ISO and EN standards for Environmental Product Declarations. The data will feed into an ISO14044 compliant Life Cycle Assessment, to be carried out by specialist practitioners and independently reviewed by an approved, third-party verifier. Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM will be the culmination of this work: verified documents that detail the ‘cradle to gate’ environmental impacts of Holcim’s Readymix Concrete.

The development of a concrete EPD is a critical  ‘missing’ piece to having all key infrastructure and building products represented by an EPD. Its publication will support designers and developers to drive improved  sustainable procurement and materials selection.

“The advent of Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM will help shape the way the construction industry analyses the environmental impact of buildings and infrastructure in the future,” says National Sales and Marketing Manager Glenn Simpkin.

“By bringing concrete products on board to the EPD program in Australia, Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM will vastly increase the accessibility of life cycle data for construction  materials  and thus the speed of life cycle assessments, enabling greater depth of analysis in the same timeframe. Going from generic environmental information to product, company and geographically-specific information will allow for deeper, broader and more bespoke analysis with greater confidence in the results.”

Beyond providing greater transparency, Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM also provide a rigorous, science-based framework for driving environmental improvement throughout Holcim’s sites and supply chains. It will lead the way for other concrete providers to follow suit, fostering a whole-of-life approach in the Australian building products sector.

Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM also has the potential to challenge views on environmental sustainability, by supporting the standardisation and transparency of environmental claims.

Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM can be directly taken up by a range of existing tools and rating schemes. The data can be imported into digital industry tools such as eTool – a web-based Life Cycle Design app for the built form used by ESD designers and developers and the IS Materials Calculator, used to assess a project’s embodied GHG emissions from materials use and their Mat-1 IS points. EPDs can also be used to gain points under the Mat-2 credit of the IS Rating scheme and Credit 21 of the Green Star As Built rating scheme, which Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM will enable for Readymix Concrete as an industry first upon publication.

As a result, Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM will offer an advantage to customers wanting to be leaders in the sustainable infrastructure and building industry, currently led by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, and Green Building Council of Australia. This topic will be explored by Holcim’s National Approvals and Sustainable Development Manager, Cyril Giraud, at the Innovation Panel on Day 1 of the ISCA Conference 2018 next week.

“The information from Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM can be used by a range of our customers and their associates, from architects, engineers, developers and builders, to drive reductions in the embodied environmental impact of buildings and infrastructure at the design and specification stage,” says National Approvals and Sustainable Development Manager Cyril Giraud.

“To build infrastructure and buildings that have a lower environmental impact requires smarter design, informed by accurate and relevant environmental data. Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM set a very clear commitment to providing accurate and transparent environmental data for our customers and a framework for continued improvement on Holcim’s part,” says Cyril.

Holcim’s ViroDecs^TM is just one of a series of new sustainability measures driven by the objectives of the global LafargeHolcim 2030 Sustainability Plan. The 2030 Plan supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, while articulating our own commitment to improving sustainability outcomes for our operations and customers.

The LafargeHolcim 2030 Plan is available to view online, and incorporates sustainability targets across matters of innovation, climate, circular economy, water, nature, people and communities.

CPB Contractors: Influencing and Accelerating Positive Change

We caught up with David Fox, Group Manager Sustainability at CPB Contractors. CPB Contractors are one of the gold partners for the 2018 IS Annual Conference, and David is the moderator of the Materials, Resources and the Circular Economy Panel. CPB Contractors’s Julian Sharp will also be talking about the innovative use of recycled plastic in rail infrastructure at the Innovations and Impact Workshop.

What are some of the  ways CPB Contractors is demonstrating sustainability leadership?

Through leadership and collaboration, CPB Contractors is seeking to influence and accelerate positive change to protect and preserve the world around us. CPB Contractors has commenced a national Sustainability Awareness and Training Program to increase the knowledge and capabilities of our staff and promote the benefits of sustainability. Although open to everyone, the training specifically targets senior leadership, project managers, tendering teams and sustainability professionals.

In partnership with CIMIC Group’s engineering and technical services business, EIC Activities, we also recently organised two industry breakfast events in Brisbane and Sydney with independent think tank Beyond Zero Emissions advocating the need for the construction industry to initiate and adopt lower carbon concrete solutions.

CPB Contractors is one of the largest contractors in Australia there’s a huge opportunity to have a positive impact for people and planet. What are some of the ways you’re achieving this?

We understand that sustainability is about ensuring the long-term success of our projects, people, communities and ecosystems by integrating environmental, social, economic and governance factors into our decision making.

In the people space, CPB Contractors was the first corporate organisation to sign a 10-year commitment with CareerTrackers, providing internships to Indigenous university students. Since 2011, more than 100 Indigenous students have completed internships at our projects and in our offices, with many being accepted into the CIMIC Group Graduate Program or into employment with our company.

At project level, CPB Contractors is committed to reducing our impact during construction activities as demonstrated by recent Australian first initiatives including:

• The first large scale use of EME2 Asphalt pavement
• Use of hybrid solar powered generators
• Implementing soft plastic recycling schemes
• Reuse of crushed glass in road pavements and earthworks

What role do you see infrastructure playing in how we respond to climate change?

Infrastructure helps to shape our world, the way we move and interact, and the way we live our lives. Many of our projects are critical to the day-to-day operation of our cities and communities. But our climate is changing and the way we design and build has become critically important. For example, as climate change is forecast to cause an increase in the number and severity of extreme weather events, the infrastructure we deliver must not only mitigate these expected impacts, but provide adaptive solutions, such as carbon  sequestration, flood detention and consideration of emergency response scenarios to extreme events.

What does the industry in Australia need to do to realise the SDGs by 2030?

As a member of the CIMIC Group, CPB Contractors recognises the global commitment of governments and businesses to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our commitment is reflected in CIMIC’s Sustainability Policy which notes that ‘the Group will abide by the principles of the UN Global Compact and acknowledges its role in contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.’

The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. They include ‘Global Goals’ and identified targets. Our industry can make a significant contribution to Goal #11 – ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ by delivering sustainable infrastructure projects, and our industry can provide leadership to influence Goal #8 – ‘Decent work and Economic Growth’ through the procurement of sustainable products and mitigating against Modern Slavery in the supply chain. This will be a heightened area of focus with the implementation of Modern Slavery Legislation in 2019.
How are you currently deploying the IS tool on your projects and what have been the challenges. What learnings and successes have you had?

To date, we have deployed the IS tool on 21 projects, and achieved six ‘Leading’ and six ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Initially, awareness of ISCA was limited in some regions, however, with more than 100 staff trained as IS accredited professionals to date, ISCA has provided a common sustainability language and catalyst for sustainable decision making, which has resulted in stronger engagement and awareness across our project teams.

Senior Leadership promotion of sustainability, early integration on projects and engagement with suppliers and stakeholders, have been critical to the successful delivery of sustainable outcomes.

What project are you particularly proud of and why?

The Furlong Main Blackburn Heatherdale Level Crossing Removal Project in Melbourne achieved a Leading ISCA score of 80 which exceeded the contractual requirement of 65 and validated the many individual sustainable outcomes achieved on the project including:

Verified Australian First Innovations:

• TRINET – the use of a polymer based drainage blanket
• Biodiesel LED light towers
• Remote area power supply – solar hybrid generator

Verified reductions:

• 47% energy reduction
• 65.5% water reduction
• 21% materials reduction

The project delivered significant social sustainability outcomes including the social enterprise engagement of Yarra View Nursery Enterprise.

 

 

How has using the ISCA framework helped to drive more sustainable outcomes for CPB Contractors?

The ISCA framework provides a common language to communicate sustainability targets, benchmarks and outcomes across our projects.

CPB Contractors has utilised the ISCA framework as a catalyst for sustainable decision making by mandating ISCA management methodologies within our Sustainability Management System.

To date, sustainability-focused decision making and benchmarking have assisted CPB Contractors to identify and implement more than 17 unique innovations, including nine Australian firsts and five state firsts.
What’s next for CPB Contractors in sustainability?

We look forward to further collaborating with our clients and suppliers to identify innovative and sustainable ways to deliver projects and further accelerate positive change within our environments and communities.

 

IS Award Finalists Announced

At ISCA we reward and recognise leadership in Infrastructure Sustainability to shift the benchmark and drive positive change within the industry. We do this through our rating scheme and our annual awards that distinguish excellence in organisational, individual and project leadership.

ISCA’s panel of judges have carefully presided over the many nominations and have narrowed down the field to announce 3 finalists for each category, and they are;

• The finalists for IS Individual Leadership Award – Recognising the individual who best exhibits the most outstanding performance, leadership and greatest contribution to advancing infrastructure sustainability in Australasia are;
  • Jim Appleby – Downer Group
  • Trevor Cohen – Downer Group
  • Rebecca Miller – Aecom

• The finalists for our new award category IS Emerging Individual Leader – Recognising potential future leaders aged 30 years or younger are:
  • Duncan Blackburn – Arup
  • Sam Donaldson – Laing O’Rourke
  • Laura Pritchard – Sydney Metro

• The finalist for IS Organisational Leadership Award – recognising the organisation that exhibits the most outstanding performance, leadership and greatest contribution to advancing infrastructure sustainability in Australasia are; ‘
  • CPB Contractors & EIC Activities (CIMIC Group)
  • Main Roads WA
  • Sydney Metro

• The finalists for our new award category IS Innovation and Impact Award – Celebrating the infrastructure project which demonstrates the most impressive implementation of innovation are;
  • Metro Tunnel Early Works (John Holland & Rail Projects Victoria)
  • Level Crossings Removal Authority
  • Western Program Alliance – Kororoit Creek Road Level Crossing Removal (LXRA, McConnell Dowell, MTM, Arup, Mott MacDonald)

Our sustainability and infrastructure judges this year had an extremely difficult task with the high calibre of nominations. As the groundswell of support and capability increases with infrastructure sustainability so to does the leadership in this area. With now more than $100billion worth of projects engaged in the IS rating scheme the competition to reward the best continues to increase

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Update:

After having received the latest round of project verifications, we are proud to announce that the finalists for the 2018 IS Outstanding Achievement Awards are:

Design:

• Metro Tunnel – Early Works
• Sydney Metro Northwest – Operations, Trains and Systems
• WestConnex – Stage 1b: M4 East

As Built:

• Level Crossing Removal Project – Bayswater Alliance
• Port of Brisbane – Port Drive Upgrade
• Sydney Metro Northwest – Surface and Viaduct Civils.

Don’t miss out on this Black-Tie Gala event: Annual Conference and Awards

Nadeena Dixon’s Sustainability Story Map

To help bring to life ISCA’s mission of accelerating sustainability in infrastructure through collaboration, we engaged indigenous artist Nadeena Dixon to create a ‘Sustainability Story Map’.

Featured on the front page of our Annual Conference Program this year and on our reusable delegate bags, Nadeena’s artwork shares a story of a connection and collaboration of people, planet and pathways from past to future.

ISCA team met with Nadeena, a proud woman of the Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal people who shared her story of growing up traditionally and sharing her time by the sea on the south coast, in the snowy mountains and Sydney. Being taught traditional weaving methods by her aunties, Nadeena developed a deep appreciation for story-telling nature of art from a young age. A talented artist and casual lecturer at UTS about Indigenous Perspectives in Arts and Culture, her practice encompasses print making, multi-platform production including photography, animation, video, editing, sound, and webpage design and integration.

“I’m blessed to be able to share my work and communicate my artistic vision through my arts practice,” said Nadeena.

Speaking about the piece she created for ISCA Nadeena explains “the design fits within Indigenous knowledge systems framework using key symbols to communicate through a Visual Symbol language. I think of the work as a type of Story Map or Story world that can be read and translated through the symbols that identify what the core messages are.”

ISCA is delighted with Nadeena’s Sustainable Story Map and we hope you are too, each delegate at our Annual Conference will take home a reusable bag with the artwork printed on it.

 

Lendlease: Gold Partners at the IS Awards

ISCA are proud to have Lendlease, a founding member and continuous supporter, as a gold partner for this year’s IS Awards. We caught up with the infrastructure sustainability team at Lendlease ahead of next week’s IS Awards:

Why did you decide to partner with ISCA for the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Awards? 

As a Signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, we remain committed to managing and optimising our sustainability contribution and performance through delivering economic, social and environmentally responsible outcomes. We have a long and proud history of championing environmental, social and economic outcomes to deliver projects that respond to both our clients’ needs and community expectations. Lendlease has been a proud supporter and member of ISCA for many years now and we are committed to delivering and maintaining sustainable infrastructure in construction and operation. We currently have 12 ISCA rated projects throughout Australia and have contributed to ISCA’s development over the years with involvement in pilot projects, board representation, industry secondments and involvement in various working groups and IS V2.0 review groups.

Support for ISCA and the IS Awards, which showcase best practice for implementing sustainability for infrastructure projects, is another way that we can demonstrate our commitment and support for sustainable infrastructure. Acknowledging achievement and best practice within the industry is crucial to ensure that the outcomes can be shared and implemented on a wider scale.

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What are some of the ways Lendlease is demonstrating sustainability leadership?

Lendlease continues to build on our extensive sustainability expertise, consolidating our focus around two principal areas, namely environment and community.  Lendlease is recognised by GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) as an international leader, with the Lendlease managed Australian Prime Property Fund (Commercial) ranked first. In FY18, Lendlease achieved 99% green certification of our development pipeline and we are delivering the IS framework on several projects around Australia. We remain focused on a 20% reduction in the consumption of energy, emissions, water and waste by 2020. We are implementing the recommendations of the Taskforce for Climate related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and are a Signatory to both the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and the UN Global Compact (UNGC).

Through our work, we also aim to leave a social legacy in creating jobs, building skills and supporting local and marginalised communities. There are numerous programs and initiatives underway across Lendlease and we are particularly proud of our RAP, which achieved Elevate status.  Additionally, we continue to drive positive outcomes through the numerous skills and training ‘Hubs’ across our projects and through partnerships with organisations like CareerTrackers and CareerSeekers.  We are also proud of our leadership in health and wellbeing, including the provision of leading mental health training, flexible work options and the provision of healthier work environments.

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Lendlease was founded in Sydney, Australia, and is now a leading international property and infrastructure group with approximately 12,740 employees internationally. There’s a huge opportunity to have a positive impact for people and planet; what are some of the ways you’re achieving this?

Two examples that demonstrate our positive impact to people and planet is our work around Indigenous reconciliation through our Reconciliation Action Plan and our recent partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

As an Australian company, our vision for reconciliation remains one that drives all employees to acknowledge and celebrate the proud heritage of Australia’s First Peoples. It also promotes opportunities for career development, sustainable business growth and economic participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. In 2016, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) achieved ‘Elevate’ status, the highest level to be awarded by Reconciliation Australia. In the last financial year, Lendlease has engaged with over 50 Supply Nation certified or registered Indigenous businesses (to the value of $68.3M), several of which have signed partnership MoU’s to participate in Lendlease’s Gymea Program to deliver enhanced economic and social outcomes through our partnerships.

In April, our Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Steve McCann joined His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, on Queensland’s Lady Elliot Island, to announce a $5 million, 10 year partnership between Lendlease and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF).  This partnership will support a range of programs to protect and build resilience in the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. One of the ways we will activate our support is through Springboard, our flagship global Foundation program. Lendlease employees from around the world will have the opportunity to work with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and engage with local Indigenous communities, in on-ground conservation projects. This support aligns with our Elevate RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) commitments, which are focused on providing meaningful and sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities.

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What role do you see infrastructure playing in how we respond to climate change?

Infrastructure plays a critical role in how we can manage, adapt and be resilient to the impacts of climate change. If we do not design and build infrastructure for future climate trends and predictions, the asset will be susceptible to climate change risks and will not service the community and society in the way it was intended. It is all too common these days to see vital pieces of infrastructure impacted by the extremes of climate change and the associated devastating impact this can have on the community. The infrastructure that we deliver today needs careful consideration of climate risks, the incorporation of sustainable material choices and processes; and the agility to respond positively to the adoption of new technologies such as autonomous and electric vehicles, the internet of things and other disruptive technologies.

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What does the industry in Australia need to do to realise the SDGs by 2030?

Industry influence on the adoption and implementation of SDGs should not be underestimated. Industry can take a leadership position through the adoption of SDG targets, and other sustainability performance rating tools such as IS and Green Star, to continually drive business improvements internally and deliver quality assets that meet economic, social and environmental expectations for our clients. Industry can also assist by improving collaboration and actively sharing innovations and lessons learned to build momentum within the industry and reassure other organisations starting their sustainability journey that positive change is possible and makes strong business sense.

Investment in infrastructure is at a record high within Australia, and our ability to work collaboratively with our clients to achieve exceptional sustainability outcomes through the assets we design and deliver has never been greater. Ensuring that we use our internal experience and expertise to identify sustainable opportunities and overcome sustainability challenges will help lift this industry to new heights. That’s why the advocacy and adoption of SDGs, IS and other rating tools such as Green Star are important for our business and our clients and stakeholders.

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How are you currently deploying the IS tool on your projects and what have been the challenges. Learnings and successes?

All of our IS rated projects have a dedicated team of sustainability professionals that help to coordinate and deliver the IS rating scheme. As we all know, sustainability is a team sport and requires each discipline of the project delivery team to activity participate and contribute to enhanced sustainability outcomes. Without their ongoing dedication and passion, some of our success stories would never have materialised. Building on that passion to improve the industry, monthly national sustainability forums are held with all our sustainability leads to help facilitate the transfer of knowledge between projects and team members. In addition to these forums, project sustainability leads are often invited to participate in other project sustainability start-up workshops to impart their knowledge and experience with the IS rating process. Often our sustainability leads will audit other IS rated projects to provide a “second opinion” on our submissions and ensure that our procedures are sound and robust. All our projects have found that early engagement with the ISCA team and communication about the roles and responsibilities of the wider project team in implementing sustainability, enables the best outcomes for the project.

From a corporate perspective, we are continually refining our management system and procedures to support the IS rating scheme, and facilitate the implementation of a consistent approach across the business.

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What project are you particularly proud of and why?

We have a lot of great projects, but more importantly, many experienced and dedicated people who are delivering truly amazing outcomes on our projects. Projects such as Melbourne Metro Cross Yarra Partnership are setting new benchmarks for sustainability and showcasing what is possible through good planning and commitment to sustainable practices. Northconnex, which was our first project to achieve a leading rating, has implemented best practice in water treatment and recycling with a treatment plant that has recycled up to 50% of water used for tunnelling operations. Other significant projects include our Northern Connector project that is achieving amazing outcomes though our Employment and Skilling Hub (NorthHub) and our Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Projects that are continually pushing boundaries and striving for best practice as seen within the latest ISCA impacts report. While not a project, we’re also proud of our concrete precast facility (Australian Precast Solutions) that has been producing precast concrete structures with significantly less cement content than traditional concrete mixes.

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How has using the ISCA framework helped to drive more sustainable outcomes for Lendlease?

For the first time within our industry, the ISCA framework has brought consistency to the way industry implements, reports and measures sustainability performance. This consistency, along with the widespread adoption of the framework by our key clients, has cemented sustainability as a key component of infrastructure delivery. It has also provided the industry with a mechanism to continually improve sustainability performance and challenge traditional industry norms.

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What’s next for Lendlease? 

Our vision is to create the best places, and we recognise that we are uniquely placed in the type and scale of work we deliver and the locations we work in, to be able to positively contribute to global scale agendas, like the UN Sustainable Develop Goals.  We can achieve this not only through ‘what’ we do, but also ‘how’ we do it.  To this end, Lendlease remains committed and focused on delivering long term value as governments, investors and the private sector seek trusted partners who can deliver efficient, healthy and resilient outcomes that are financially, environmentally, culturally and socially inclusive.

Liberty Steel: Delivering on its Sustainability Promise

This article is taken from the 2018 ISCA Impacts Report.

Liberty Steel and ISCA are united in their pursuit of sustainable outcomes for Australia’s infrastructure. 

Liberty Steel is proud to partner with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia to facilitate infrastructure that can deliver optimum social and environmental outcomes.

The company is Australia’s largest manufacturer and supplier of structural and reinforcing steel, including hot rolled structurals, pipe and tube, rod, reinforcing bar, wire products and rail. Liberty Steel’s structural and reinforcing steel and rail products enable the construction of steel-framed buildings, buildings framed in concrete and nation-building infrastructure projects.

The company is a key supplier and partner to the construction industry. Approximately 80 per cent  of the steel Liberty Steel manufactures is used by the construction industry, which places the company on the front line in the delivery of resilient infrastructure that meets recognised sustainability targets. ‘Sustainability’ is one of Liberty Steel’s core values and aligns with ISCA’s core value of ‘Improving the productivity and liveability of industry and communities through sustainability in infrastructure’.

The important role played by Liberty Steel in delivering better outcomes for communities and the natural environment is recognised by ISCA, with Acting CEO Ainsley Simpson stating: “Liberty Steel actively find ways to play their part as integral partners in infrastructure through the provision of sustainable steel products – this is enabling the delivery of better outcomes for Australian communities.”

Taking the lead in sustainability

Liberty Steel takes a proactive approach to sustainability by striving for continuous improvements in environmental performance and by taking its social responsibilities seriously.

In Australia and around the world, GFG Alliance, owner of Liberty Steel, supports local communities by investing in local industry. The company’s mission here in Australia is to transform metals manufacturing, engineering and mining by building on local resources, sustainable energy, new technology and enhanced skills.

Liberty Steel’s efforts are informed by its GREENSTEEL strategy, which focuses on increasing the use of renewable energy, promoting greater use of recycled materials and operating facilities close to key markets. The results of that strategy can already be seen with Liberty Steel increasing the proportion of energy from renewable sources it uses in its manufacturing mix, and by investing significantly in renewable energy assets through its sister company SIMEC ZEN Energy.

In May of this year, SIMEC ZEN Energy signed a 15-year power purchase agreement to take most of the output from French renewable energy company NEOEN’s Numurkah Solar Farm in northwest Victoria. The landmark deal will supply sufficient renewable energy to operate the Liberty Steel Laverton steelworks in Victoria.

Liberty Steel also makes it easy for its industry partners to understand the sustainability impact of using steel in construction projects by supplying Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) with its range of hot rolled structural, rail, merchant bar and reinforcing products.

Liberty Steel’s EPDs provide transparent information about the environmental impacts of the company’s steel products throughout their life cycle. Liberty Steel’s construction partners can boost their projects’ sustainability ratings by procuring Liberty Steel’s products and services, and leveraging these EPDs.

One of the projects currently maximising the benefits of Liberty Steel’s EPDs is Victoria’s $1.6 billion Caulfield to Dandenong (CTD) Level Crossing Removal project. Liberty Steel has supplied 4000 tonnes of prefabricated reinforcing steel to the project, which is elevating sections of rail line and removing nine dangerous and congested level crossings. The use of Liberty Steel’s Australian-made reinforcing steel is helping the CTD project accrue points in the materials category of the IS rating tool, with the project targeting an ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating.

Collaboration with ISCA

Liberty Steel’s Rob Johnson says the ISCA framework is central to the drive for more sustainable outcomes for steel.

“The ISCA framework provides a platform for early engagement and collaboration at all levels of the supply chain which, in turn, provides opportunities to develop and deliver more sustainable outcomes for projects and for steel.”

He says Liberty Steel is pleased to act as an Australian and New Zealand official partner for ISv2.0 launch events.

“ISv2.0 represents a great step forward in respect to sustainability ratings for infrastructure, incorporating a more holistic approach to sustainability via the inclusion of key elements such as economic and social sustainability, as well as a focus on sustainable procurement,” Rob says.

“ISv2.0 encourages and promotes greater collaboration and communication across all supply chain partners for infrastructure projects. Collaboration, early engagement and communication are fundamental to successfully driving improved sustainability outcomes.”

He says Liberty Steel will continue in its collaboration and communication efforts as it seeks to invest in renewable energy, support local communities, and embed and enhance the company’s core values of Family, Sustainability and Change.

“Our intention is to operate our business for the long term and build a legacy for the future,” he says.

Meet the 2018 IS Award Judges

The Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Awards return for its fifth year. Hosted by Logie award winning comedian and star of Utopia, Dilruk Jayasinha, the awards are a celebration of the wonderful contribution of industry to sustainable infrastructure.

The judging panel, convened by ISCA CEO, Ainsley Simpson, is charged with carefully recognising leadership at an individual, project and organisational level. Made up of sustainability and industry experts, meet our judging panel for 2018;

• Dr Steve Lennon – Vice-president of United Nations Association of Australia
• Kate Meyrick – Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at The Hornery Institute
• Nicole Bradford – Portfolio Head, Responsible Investment at Cbus Super Fund
• Matt Willson – Associate Director – Sustainable Finance at Westpac Institutional Bank
• Sue-Ellen Fenelon – Board member Engineering New Zealand

Honoured to be selected for the judging panel this year, Dr Steve Lennon believes “leadership in infrastructure sustainability is not just about recognising excellence, it also creates role models that we can all emulate in the quest for truly sustainable development.”

Similarly, CEO of the Hornery Institute, Kate Meyrick is happy to recognises leaders in sustainable infrastructure as it helps to “increase the competitiveness and liveability of our cities”.

This year, for the first time there will be six awards, four for the judges to preside over and two based on there IS rating score:

• IS Individual Leadership Award – Recognising the individual who best exhibits the most outstanding performance, leadership and greatest contribution to advancing infrastructure sustainability in Australasia.
• IS Emerging Individual Leader– Recognising potential future leaders aged 30 years or younger.
• IS Organisational Leadership Award – This award recognises the organisation that exhibits the most outstanding performance, leadership and greatest contribution to advancing infrastructure sustainability in Australasia.
• IS Innovation and Impact Award – Celebrating the infrastructure project which demonstrates the most impressive implementation of innovation.
• IS Outstanding Achievement Award, Design– This award recognises the project which achieved the highest design rating between October 2017 – October 2018.
• IS Outstanding Achievement Award, As Built– This award recognises the project which achieved the highest as built rating between October 2017 – October 2018.

Don’t miss out on this black-tie gala event:

https://www.isca.org.au/awards_ticket

What to Expect at the 2018 ISCA Annual Conference

The 2018 Infrastructure Sustainability Conference is about ‘accelerating positive change for people and planet’. The three-day conference in Sydney, from 16-18^th October, will be ISCA’s largest to date.

ISCA is synonymous with driving improvement in Australasian infrastructure, and as such the conference is based around current and forward-thinking industry themes, as identified by ISCA’s community of members. In breaking down the overarching conference theme, ‘Accelerating positive change for people and planet’, themes include an outside looking in approach to change management (change), social and the supply chain (people), the road to carbon neutrality, and also climate risk and resilience (planet).

A materials, resources and the circular economy panel has been established for key Australasian material producers, contractors and policy makers to share insights and the benefits of recycling, re-use and re-purposing when implemented in modern construction.

The aforementioned ‘outside looking in approach to change management’ features best case examples from other industries; including sustainability managers from Coles, Qantas and John West. This panel will explore lessons learned and challenges faced in driving sustainable outcomes, with transferable lessons for the infrastructure industry on implementing sustainability and change management.  This is the first time an ISCA conference has engaged other industries to speak and share knowledge relatable learnings with our network.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals have been interwoven into ISv2.0, ISCA’s latest iteration of the IS Rating Scheme, and there will be a continuation of this alignment at the conference. Michael G Smith, President of the United Nations Association of Australia will introduce and delve into the SDGs, and suggest how the Australasian infrastructure industry can contribute.

Other notable keynotes include Stephen Troughton, Deputy Secretary of Infrastructure and Services at Transport for NSW, Jim Betts, the CEO of Infrastructure NSW, and Marc Barrington, Simic ZEN’s new CEO, responsible for building Australia’s largest battery storage facility. Shelley Reys AO will also be delivering a keynote, on behalf of Arrilla Indigenous Consulting, to share her story and experience in building cultural competency within Australian organisations.

From further afield, there will be international keynote speakers from exciting projects in London and Toronto. Rob Paris, the head of sustainability at London’s ambitious Crossrail project, will be sharing wins and challenges from the £15 billion ‘Elizabeth Line’, which links Berkshire and Essex to central London, via Heathrow Airport. Sebastien Gendron is the co-founder and CEO of TransPod, which is Canada’s hyperloop start-up. Sebastien will speak about his vision for the future of affordable and sustainable ultra-high-speed transportation, TransPod’s progress in the hyperloop race, and will answer questions from the audience.

As infrastructure sustainability evolves and develops we continue to focus on innovation and impact.  The first day of the conference features an ‘innovation and impacts’ workshop, which features seven projects and products each showcasing an innovation. From biofuels to electric cars, recycled plastic to biomimicry, this is the session to learn about the coolest new technology and latest inventions in the industry. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn about these innovations in an up close and personal in small groups with the subject matter experts.

Networking is paramount to any ISCA event, and there is plenty of opportunities to catch up with old colleagues, meet new people and to talk with the event’s speakers. On Day 1 there will be networking drinks to welcome delegates, and the awards in the evening of Day 2 is the industry’s premiere black-tie celebration. Logie-award winning comedian and star of ABC’s Utopia Dilruk Jayasinha will be the host of the award evening, which sees six awards presented to the industry’s leaders.

Day 3 is the ISAP practitioner’s day to learn more about the IS rating scheme, projects and technicalities. The day starts with a Transport for NSW site tour of Sydney’s CBD. There will be an insight into under construction, completed and future projects.

The afternoon sessions will feature interactive workshops and panels on; award winning projects, IS Operations, the Materials Calculator and Program Ratings. The day will close with a Verifiers panel, which will be your opportunity to ask all the curly questions to get the most out of an IS rating.

As with all ISCA events, there in a policy to ensure that all suppliers are from either Supply Nation, certified social enterprises and are sustainable. From the lanyards made of recycled plastic bottles through to Indigenous artist created delegate bags, everything has been sourced to create a positive change for people and planet. ISCA are also incredibly proud that speakers, while selected on merit, represent an even split of genders.
To register for the IS Conference, or the Awards Gala Dinner, or to see the line-up of speakers visit the conference registration page.

 

IS Innovation Challenges: IC-3 Carbon Neutrality

IS Innovation Challenges are there to inspire projects, organisations, assets and individuals to pursue sustainability initiatives beyond the expectations of the ISv1.2 rating scheme.

Innovation Challenges are used to reward projects that go beyond the rating requirements and for continuous improvement of the tool.

Projects that meet the requirements outlined in Innovation Challenges will be rewarded through the Innovation category of the IS rating scheme.

A project can register interest for an Innovation Challenge through their Case Manager using the Innovation challenge registration form. For more information on submissions, visit the innovation challenges index.

The IC-3 Carbon Neutrality challenge rewards project/assets that achieve certified carbon neutrality. There are three IS innovation points available for residual carbon emission being 100% offset, and if offsets are deemed suitable under the National Carbon Offset Standard.

Evidence for achieving this challenge can be:

• Certificate of purchase/currency/purchase agreement/ carbon offset purchase agreement.
• Memo confirming cancellation of offsets and percentage of total carbon emissions offset
• Energy model

Why is this Challenge Important

Global energy use continues to rise as economies grow. Most Australian energy is derived from non-renewable fossil fuel resources (coal, natural gas and oil). The use of fossil fuels creates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which causes climate change. Climate change will adversely impact the systems that support our way of life such as ecosystems and climatic systems.

Australia is one of the highest per capita emitters of GHGs. Recognising the threat posed by climate change, the Australian and New Zealand Governments have committed to reduce GHG emissions. Australia has committed to reduce emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030 and New Zealand has committed to reducing emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. In 2015, New Zealand ratified the Paris Agreement, a global agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C. Australia ratified the agreement in 2016.

If Australia and New Zealand are to achieve their GHG emission targets, all industries and individuals will need to reduce their energy consumption and reduce their GHG emissions.

As such the goal of achieving carbon neutrality on infrastructure projects is an important milestone.

The intent of this innovation challenge is to reward projects that achieve carbon neutrality. Reductions should be prioritised over offsetting using the following hierarchy:

1. Reducing energy use and GHGs through design (i.e. designing out the need for activities that use energy or generate GHG emissions) and construction
2. Undertaking any necessary activities as efficiently as possible (e.g. maximising energy efficiency).
3. Where feasible, using renewable energy to replace non-renewable sources.
4. Offsetting (This challenge)

Guidance

Residual carbon emissions are 100% offset.

Residual emissions are made up of those demonstrated in Ene-1 including any reductions made through the use of on-site renewables. For example, if a project produces 10,000 tCO2-e over its lifecycle and 1,200 tCO2-e were reduced through energy efficiencies with an extra 2,300 tCO2-e reduced through renewables, then the residual emissions would equal 6,500 tCO2-e.

Certificates of purchase/currency/purchase agreement/carbon offset purchase agreement must be provided to demonstrate offsetting has been completed.

Total monitored carbon emissions for construction and operations and proof of purchase and cancellation of eligible offsets must be provided demonstrating a total construction and operations emissions offset. A memo complete with proof of offset cancellation may be used for evidence.

Clean Energy Opportunities Within Reach For Australia’s Infrastructure Sector

Article taken from the 2018 ISCA Impacts Report

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has identified enormous potential for improved sustainability through investment in clean energy opportunities within Australia’s infrastructure sector.

Established by the Australian Government in 2012, the CEFC works to increase investment in emissions reduction.  Australian infrastructure is a focus for the CEFC because the sector accounts for almost half the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, driven largely by fossil fuel consumption in energy generation and through transport and industrial process emissions.

CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said the scale of infrastructure projects, and their longevity, mean they are well placed to benefit from investment in clean energy technologies to lift energy efficiency, increase productivity and lower emissions including through fuel switching and electrification of transport.

“It is absolutely critical that the infrastructure assets of today contribute to the overall emissions reduction task that we are facing. Through our investments, the CEFC is targeting comprehensive and sustained improvements to the carbon footprint of our infrastructure assets,” Mr Learmonth said.

In the past year the CEFC has committed $300 million to two major infrastructure programs, to demonstrate the potential for emissions reduction in the sector – $150 million in equity towards the IFM Australian Infrastructure Fund and $150 million in debt finance towards the sustainable development of the nationally-significant Moorebank Logistics Park.
DELIVERING A STEP CHANGE IN INFRASTRUCTURE EMISSIONS

The $12 billion IFM Australian Infrastructure Fund, managed by IFM Investors, has Australia’s largest portfolio of high-quality infrastructure assets including, Ausgrid, Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney’s Port Botany and the Port of Brisbane.

The CEFC estimates that just a five per cent improvement across the assets in the portfolio would abate almost 69,000 tonnes of CO2-e annually. This is equivalent to removing 14,775 cars from the road each year or providing electricity to 7,450 homes a year.

The CEFC’s commitment to the fund involves working with IFM Investors to enhance benchmarks and transparency around infrastructure emissions to deliver a step change in the emissions profile of Australia’s infrastructure.

While the agreement with IFM Investors is in its early stages, the kinds of initiatives likely to be implemented include

installing on-site solar PV and battery storage solutions and transitioning car fleets to electric vehicles over time. They are also likely to involve using smart management systems which monitor asset performance and assist with reducing energy consumption and optimising logistics and supply chains.

 

FUEL SWITCHING FOR EMISSIONS REDUCTION

The CEFC’s finance for Moorebank Logistics Park, being developed by leading freight and logistics company Qube Holdings Limited, is aimed at demonstrating the potential for emissions reduction through fuel switching.

The CEFC has committed up to $150 million through a seven-year bilateral term debt facility to assist in providing medium-term finance for the staged construction of the terminal.

The Moorebank project will switch the movement of 1.55 million freight containers at Port Botany from road to rail, with an estimated annual abatement of more than 110,000 tCO₂e in transport-related emissions.

The switch to rail transport, when operating at scale, will cut an estimated 3,000 truck journeys a day from Sydney’s road network, particularly the M5. It will also reduce the number of regular Sydney-Brisbane and Sydney-Melbourne truck freight trips.

The Moorebank Logistics Park will be developed across 243 hectares in south-western Sydney, taking advantage of its location near the Southern Sydney Freight Line, M5 and M7 motorways and in an area of rapid population and economic growth. The project will incorporate large-scale renewable energy technology expected to generate 65,000 MWh/year – enough to power over 10,000 homes.

Despite its massive scale – operating across a site the size of Sydney’s CBD – the freight and energy efficiencies delivered via the Moorebank Logistics Park are expected to result in net emission reductions totalling more than 2 million tonnes of CO₂-e over a 40-year period.

 

EXCELLENT STANDARDS FOR CLEAN ENERGY OUTCOMES

The CEFC finances infrastructure projects as part of its Sustainable Cities Investment Program which aims to invest $1 billion into clean energy initiatives in Australian cities over 10 years.

Its investments encourage increased transparency around emissions performance, through asset-level energy and emissions performance reporting and benchmarking against internationally-accepted science-based targets.

When the CEFC is assessing finance for infrastructure projects it typically asks that ISCA ratings of “Excellent” be sought for the relevant assets.

The CEFC is looking to finance measures that enable an increased focus on renewable energy and energy efficient technologies at the individual asset level. Its investments target best practice and market leading design, construction and operations.  Both equity investment and tailored debt finance are available and each request for finance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about the CEFC and its investments at cefc.com.au