Tier-one contractor  John Paul Construction has joined the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) as a gold member and will support the IGBC in developing new programmes to decarbonise the Irish built environment. The partnership is being launched during World Quality Week #WQW21, which this year focuses on sustainability.

Sustainable building commitment

Liam Kenny, Managing Director, John Paul Construction, said: “The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment. Globally, our sector consumes almost half of the non-renewable resources used. John Paul Construction is committed to improvement and ongoing upskilling to ensure high-quality, sustainable buildings are delivered. We also believe that the best way to achieve this is through collaboration. That’s why we are delighted to work with the Irish Green Building Council and fellow members to transform the Irish construction industry.”

Environmental Product Declarations campaign

John Paul Construction has also joined the Irish Green Building Council’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) campaign as part of the partnership. The campaign aims to encourage manufacturers to measure the impact of their building products by producing EPDs. By signing the commitment, the company pledges to prefer products with EPDs where possible, within procurement restrictions and to raise awareness among their staff, design teams, and trade partners. Launched in 2018 by the IGBC, the EPD campaign has more than 40 signatories to date.

Construction-related carbon emissions

Pat Barry, CEO, Irish Green Building Council, commented: “Carbon emissions associated with the construction, building, and infrastructure sectors account for approximately a third of Ireland’s emissions. Overall, these emissions are predicted to follow a downward trend till 2030, but construction-related emissions are forecasted to increase. To address this and reach carbon neutrality by 2050, we need the collaboration of all involved in the industry. Having a leading construction company such as John Paul Construction on board can push this agenda forward.”