Keltbray Highlights the Importance of Collaboration in Advancing the Circular Economy for the Construction Industry

Esher, Surrey – 04 October 2024 – In recognition of the 7th annual Circular Economy Week, Keltbray, a leading UK specialist engineering and construction services company, hosted a high-impact roundtable, bringing together top professionals across the construction supply chain. The event facilitated discussions on the challenges and opportunities of advancing the circular economy in the construction sector.

Keltbray has long been at the forefront of sustainability, committed to embedding circular economy principles into its operations. This workshop emphasised the company’s ambition to drive systemic change by encouraging collaboration among contractors, clients, suppliers, and engineers.

What is Circular Economy Week?

Circular Economy Week, organised by ReLondon, aims to connect global thought leaders, practitioners, and influencers to promote circularity in various sectors, with construction being a key focus.

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Keltbray CEO, Vince Corrigan, followed by presentations from Holly Price, Keltbray’s Group Sustainability Director, and Stuart Norman, Director of Ground Engineering. They highlighted the progress Keltbray has made on its five-year strategic sustainability plan, setting the stage for deeper discussions on driving circular practices.

Roundtable Discussions: Pioneering Change Together

Attendees participated in roundtable discussions that explored key issues the industry must address to embrace circularity. These discussions emphasised collaboration, early engagement, and knowledge-sharing across the supply chain. Some key takeaways from the discussions included:

How can the industry better identify circular economy opportunities?

• Early engagement and transparent communication across the supply chain is critical to recognising reuse potential.
• Look for inspiration outside the construction industry and to projects abroad.

How can the industry measure the impact and value of circular economy initiatives?

• The group agreed on the importance of developing standardised metrics to measure the impact of circular economy initiatives. While carbon reduction is often the focus, other critical factors—such as biodiversity preservation and resource depletion—must also be considered.
• The importance of conducting pre-demolition audits early in the process was highlighted. These audits, carried out by the right experts, can provide valuable insights for maximising material reuse and sustainability potential.
• The discussion also touched on the role of government legislation and the potential for financial incentives to drive circular economy practices, encouraging companies to prioritise sustainability in a cost-effective way.

How can Keltbray further support circular economy goals?

• Attendees urged Keltbray to share lessons learned to help the broader industry adopt similar initiatives.
• Attendees recognised that if involved at an early stage, Keltbray can help find solutions to engineering problems and advise on appropriate methodologies, logistics and programme requirements needed.

A Call for Collaboration Across the Supply Chain

The consensus from the event was clear: no single organisation can drive circularity in isolation. Achieving a truly circular construction sector requires a collaborative, industry-wide effort. Early engagement, shared resources, and creative problem-solving are essential to rethinking building design and material reuse.

Andrew Wilson, Operations Director at Mace commented on the event – ‘All businesses need to be engaged in events like this, we can facilitate our clients to produce better buildings for their clients to live in and occupy, meaning the whole circular economy can progress for the next generation.’

Michael O’Hagan, Director of Keltbray said ‘One of the main themes that came out of the event today is that not one company can change the industry on its own, it has to be right across the board, and if every part of the supply chain does their bit we will make progress, but it takes events like this to bring people together to share their ideas and aspirations.’

Keltbray remains committed to leading the industry in circular economy innovation, acting as a catalyst for change by connecting the entire supply chain and accelerating progress toward a more sustainable future. Its most recent project at 1 Victoria exemplifies the power of circularity in construction when suppliers, clients, and contractors are united under a shared sustainability vision.

1 Victoria showcases how early collaboration and aligned goals can lead to substantial reuse of materials, reduced carbon footprints, and more innovative building solutions. By integrating circular economy principles at every stage, Keltbray continues to demonstrate what can be achieved when all stakeholders work together to prioritise environmental impact and resource efficiency.

This event marks another milestone in Keltbray’s journey to revolutionise the construction industry through circularity, positioning itself as a leader in building a more sustainable, resilient world.

Watch the video below to get a glimpse at the event:

For more information on Keltbray’s circular economy initiatives, visit www.keltbray.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Kelly March

Head of Communications

Kelly.march@keltbray.com