Spec Finish

panel is an all-in-one product which is built off-site and creates an extremely low wastage; all of which can be recycled. Any off-cuts created during the build process can be reused on site, and whole panels can be reconfigured following construction if alterations are required. 2. Future-proofing If we want buildings to stand up to years of use and still be fit-for-purpose, it must be flexible, secure and able to stand up to other dangers like fire. Sustainable materials including timber, solid panels and more all fulfil these criteria. Likewise, using sustainable building materials will future-proof your buildings by ensuring that they will be fit for future environmental legislation. Make no mistake, the laws and regulations we have in place today will be made tighter over the coming decades as there will be no alternative. By thinking ahead today, your building will pass with flying colours in the future. 3. Conserving energy Reducing energy consumption at every stage of the development process is a vital part of any sustainability strategy in the construction industry – and using sustainable building materials is one of the best ways to do this. Whether it is reducing the impact of resource extraction, reducing the amount of traffic to site, cutting emissions from heating and cooling or anything else, sustainable materials can make all the difference. By cutting the embodied emissions in your development, you can make a major contribution to the fight against climate change. 4. Save money As the market becomes more competitive and the cost of building materials increase, margins are tight and many buildings will need to find cost-saving measures in order to complete. Using sustainable building materials is one of the easiest ways to do this. 5. More appealing buildings The World Green Building Council shows ( www.worldgbc.org/benefits-green- building ) that sustainable buildings h ave positive social impacts, significantly increasing peoples’ happiness and wellbeing. Put simply, the market will decide that sustainable buildings will be worth more and, therefore, will command a premium. Consequently, if a building is not constructed with sustainability in mind, it will be less appealing and fall behind its competitors. www.specwall.com Sustainability www.thefis.org 17 The FIS sustainability hub FIS is committed to taking a pro-active lead in supporting the UK ambition to net zero carbon by 2050, and delivering profound transformation within our supply chain on all aspects of ethical and environmental sustainability. As part of this, the FIS sustainability hub has been completely re-worked to help members to set up their own sustainability strategy. Members will be able to find the succinct information they need quickly and easily without having to leave the site and get bogged down with peripheral facts and distractions. There is a library of relevant sustainability literature to download and it drills down into specifics such as the Flooring Sustainability Action Plan and the Ceiling Sustainability Action Plan etc. Members can find out how to actually measure sustainability, sources of learning and training, and information on the wasted costs incurred when generating waste. www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/sustainability