Environmental Policy

Introduction

Abbott Construction recognises that its activities have an impact on the environment and is committed to minimising negative effects while promoting sustainable practices.

This policy is aligned with ISO 14001:2015 and forms part of our Integrated Management System, working alongside and supporting Abbott Construction’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, Carbon Reduction Plan, and Social Value commitments, ensuring a coordinated and consistent approach.

Our Environmental Commitments

We are committed to:

Climate Change & Carbon Reduction

• Working towards net zero carbon emissions in line with our Carbon Reduction Plan
• Monitoring and reducing carbon emissions (tCO₂e) output across our operations
• Identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency
• Promoting low-carbon construction methods and materials

Resource Efficiency & Waste

• Applying the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle
• Minimising waste generation across all sites
• Segregating and responsibly disposing of waste
• Using tools (e.g., SmartWaste) to monitor performance
• Supporting waste reduction targets aligned with our Carbon Reduction Plan and wider CSR objectives

Sustainable Materials

• Procuring responsibly sourced materials (e.g., FSC-certified timber)
• Prioritising low-carbon and sustainable materials
• Considering lifecycle environmental impacts
• Working with our supply chain to support responsible sourcing and social value outcomes

Pollution Prevention

We will minimise:

• Noise pollution
• Air pollution (including dust emissions)
• Water contamination
• Vibration impacts

This will be managed through effective planning, monitoring, and best practice construction techniques, while considering impacts on local communities in line with our Social Value commitments.

Water & Biodiversity

• Protecting watercourses and preventing contamination
• Reducing water consumption
• Protecting wildlife, habitats, and trees (including TPOs)
• Undertaking ecological assessments where required
• Supporting biodiversity protection and enhancement where practicable

Transport & Vehicles

We are committed to reducing transport-related emissions by:

• Transitioning towards low and zero-emission vehicles, including electric and hybrid options
• Promoting efficient transport planning
• Reducing unnecessary travel
• Contributing to emissions reduction targets set within our Carbon Reduction Plan

Site Management & Operations

We will:

• Maintain clean, organised sites
• Store materials safely
• Prevent pollution incidents through proper controls
• Implement Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs)
• Promote good site practices that support both environmental protection and positive community impact

Monitoring & Performance

We will:

• Set measurable environmental objectives and targets
• Monitor performance through KPIs and audits
• Use environmental tracking tools where appropriate
• Report performance in line with our CSR and Social Value commitments, including carbon reduction reporting where applicable

Training & Awareness

We will ensure that:

• Employees and contractors understand their environmental responsibilities
• Appropriate training is provided
• Environmental awareness is embedded across all operations
• Staff understand how environmental performance contributes to wider CSR and Social Value objectives

Compliance

We will:

• Comply with all relevant environmental legislation
• Maintain ISO 14001 certification
• Regularly review and improve our Environmental Management System

Integration

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

• CSR Policy
• Social Value Policy
• Health & Safety Policy
• Carbon Reduction Plan

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure ongoing suitability and effectiveness, and alignment with our CSR framework, Carbon Reduction Plan, and Social Value commitments.