Empowering Change at FOOTPRINT+ 2024: Key Themes & Actions

It has been a pleasure to attend this year’s FOOTPRINT+ conference, which highlighted transformative approaches and actionable strategies for sustainable development in the built environment:

Value Delivery Evolves:
A shift towards impact-driven results alongside traditional investor returns is redefining value, emphasizing regenerative practices that benefit both society and the environment.

Prioritise Action Over Data:
The consensus is clear: initiate impactful actions now and refine data collection and reporting processes as they evolve. As reporting landscapes become more comprehensive, it is easy to focus on metrics, however, waiting for perfect data can delay critical action.

Unlock Retrofit’s Potential:
The upgrading and repurposing of our existing building stock is vital for immediate impacts on reducing carbon footprints and we are now seeing it played out more and more. Importantly, we must also consider the impacts of leveraging novel and regenerative materials to further enhance retrofit’s effectiveness.

Material Innovations, closing the loop and regenerating:
Sustainable sourcing and waste reduction are crucial as we rethink the lifecycle impacts of construction materials on biodiversity and ecosystems, closing the loop of material use and implementing regenerative and circular material pathways is vital.

ESG and Impact Lending Drive Development:
New regulations and shifting investor demands underscore the importance of embedding ESG considerations into financial strategies for long-term sustainability.

Regenerative Practices:
Industry is embracing materials and methods that help ecosystems regenerate, providing environmental benefits that go beyond traditional construction practices. While this landscape evolves it will be vital to avoid problem-shifting, particular around land consumption for bio-based materials.

If your organisation is dealing with any of the above issues, please feel free to reach out to myself and the sustainability team at Rider Levett Bucknall, we are always happy to advise.

Thank you to all the insightful speakers at FOOTPRINT+ 2024; I look forward to attending next year.

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By Matthew Dunne

Rider Levett Bucknall