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“Sustainability” and in turn “sustainable development” are terms that mean different things to different people, making it difficult to provide a single definition. The original definition (and the one still most widely used) of sustainable development was made in the Bruntland Report (Our Common Future, World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987) which defined it as:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
Sustainable development is all about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. This can be achieved through the three strands of social equity which recognises the needs of everyone, maintenance of stable levels of economic growth and employment, and using natural resources prudently, whilst protecting, and if possible enhancing, the environment. This can be shown diagrammatically as follows:
An even balance between the circles is needed for sustainability. For example, outstanding economic performance at the cost of the community is not sustainable; neither is protecting the environment beyond reasonable means and consequently stunting any economic activities.
Sustainability also does not demand the 'perfect' solution. Sustainable development is essentially a goal or vision that forward looking organisations are working towards. A sustainable approach is a balanced approach.
There is now wide recognition that the construction industry has a vital contribution to make to sustainable development.
Economically , construction is a major sector of the United Kingdom economy and a significant employer. The broad construction sector, including building materials and associated professional services accounts for at lest ten per cent of gross domestic product and provides employment for around two million people.
Socially , the performance of the industry determines the quality not just of housing, but of the whole of the built environment including access to services and recreation. Construction should promote healthy living and socially cohesive communities. It faces the challenge of responding to the UK’s changing demographics, with people living longer and in a wider and more fluid variety of social relationships, demanding a correspondingly diverse and adaptable built environment. Society’s expectations are changing, specifically in relation to lifestyles and to workplace practices, and the construction industry needs to take account of these changes.
Environmentally , the construction, use, maintenance and renewal of the country’s infrastructure and buildings, consume energy and material resources and generate waste on a massive scale. This represents a major contribution to climate change, resource depletion and pollution at a global level.
The construction industry has a responsibility to endeavour to minimise all its adverse impacts and to act in a sustainably responsible manner.
Information taken from CIRIA publication Sustainable construction procurement. A guide to delivering environmentally responsible projects (C571).