The construction industry RT has published a responsibility program, which defines key goals, measures and metrics for the development of responsible business operations for the entire industry. The industry strives to minimize the harm caused by the operation and maximize the positive effects.
The construction industry's responsibility program forms an umbrella for the industry's responsibility work. It helps industry operators to identify development targets and necessary measures. Progress is monitored using common metrics, in addition to how companies measure and report their own performance.
"We based the responsibility program with a materiality analysis, where we identified the essential responsibility themes of the construction industry. From these, we formed five strategic responsibility themes based on what the construction industry has the greatest opportunity and ability to influence", manager Merja Vuoripuro The construction industry from RT says.
The themes are
- Climate change: A low-carbon and climate-resilient built environment
- Biodiversity: Construction that takes nature into account
- Circular economy: Life cycle-oriented operation
- Workforce: Diverse and well-being personnel
- Business principles: Transparent and fair value chain
Rakennusteollisuus RT has already prepared comprehensive road maps for low carbon and biodiversity.
"Now, in the program work, we focused especially on issues of social, financial and administrative responsibility. Regarding environmental responsibility, we wanted to emphasize the importance of the life cycle and the circular economy separately. It is also important to promote responsible operating methods in other areas, but these five themes are the focus of joint development," Vuoripuro states.
For each of these, a challenging target status has been determined, as well as sets of measures and metrics for realizing the goals. According to the responsibility program, operators in the construction industry aim for the role of development trendsetters.
"Companies in the field are naturally at different stages and progress according to their own capabilities. Some are just starting to voluntarily increase the sustainability of their operations, while pioneer companies have, for example, taken responsibility as the basis of their entire business or are already well advanced in the development of innovative solutions", the responsible lawyer Ville Wartiovaara Tells about RT.
RT is now starting to implement a responsibility program with member companies and other operators.
"Next year, our action plan includes, among other things, a guide for considering diversity, equality and equality, a model of anti-harassment instructions and participation in STM's action program against work-related exploitation", Wartiovaara mentions examples of practical actions.
Big responsibility in a big industry
The real estate and construction sector directly or indirectly employs one in five people in Finland. The tax collection is also significant: 40–45 percent of the euros invested in construction end up in taxes and tax-related payments. Construction accounts for 60 percent of investments, half of the use of raw materials, and about a third of energy consumption and emissions.
"As a large industry, we have a big responsibility. That's why taking over responsibility in the entire value chain is one of the priorities of our strategy", First Vice-Chairman of the Board of Rakennusteollisuus RT, Managing Director of Rudus Oy Mikko Vasama says.
The construction industry RT has long promoted low-carbon sustainable construction, occupational safety, fair working life and healthy competition, among other things. According to Vasama, comprehensive consideration of responsibility will be the lifeblood of the entire business in the future. It is also driven by rapidly tightening responsibility and sustainability regulations.
"The target of the regulation is mainly large players at the beginning, but the requirements flow down the value chain to SMEs as well. More and more customers also require clear evidence of responsible operating methods and transparent access to information from companies in the construction industry. That's why we consider it important to jointly develop the capabilities of our member companies to meet new requirements", emphasizes Vasama.
Gaia Consulting (Sweco) was a partner in the construction industry RT's materiality analysis and responsibility program, and the responsibility program was funded by the TT Foundation.
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More information
Ville Wartiovaara, the corresponding jurist
Merja Vuoripuro, manager