CASE STUDIES
J Coffey Construction
​
J Coffey Construction is a leading Tier 1 Subcontractor to most of the UK’s leading Main Contractors such as but not limited to MACE, ISG, SKANSKA, Balfour Beatty & Sir Robert McAlpine. The business operates primarily in London and the southeast with further projects in Dublin, Demark, Belgium & Germany and has a turnover of circa £200m. J Coffey Construction invests heavily in Stage V plant and electronic equipment as well as using HVO D+ Bio-fuel to replace diesel fuel on 94% of operational plant & equipment.
​
Learn more about the procedures and practices the company have put in place to reduce emissions from their Sustainability & Systems Director, Adrian Clamp.
What did we do and what has been the carbon impact?
​
We recognise the impact our works (Scope 3 emissions) has on the environment, especially the volume of concrete we install and the operational plant we use; both of which have significant carbon emissions; to mitigate this we use concrete design mixes that have a high ratio of GGBS as an alternative to Portland Cement. GGBS is estimated to use less than 20% of the energy and produces less than 10% of the CO2 emissions of traditional Portland cement.
We have also invested £2.8m in Stage V plant & electrically operated equipment, and as of June this year on ‘World Environment Day’, we committed to the use of HVO D+ Bio-fuel in place of diesel on 94% of our operational plant and equipment, reducing our projected carbon emissions by circa 400 tonnes CO2e for the remainder of 2022 based on the first five months of diesel consumption and a projected saving of circa 700 tonnes CO2e for 2023.
What are the key lessons you've taken from the process?
​
• Making the commitment and having the backing of the business’s Directors
• Demonstrable commitment wins work and helps future proofing business
• Disseminate the positive through the rank & file and assist & educate project team and staff. We are currently putting together a learning pathway strategy to encourage sustainability & carbon awareness through our workforce and departments to build a business culture, using the resource on the Supply Chain Sustainability School who we are corporate partners with.
• There is always a balance between concrete mix designs and cure time, so invest time in methodology that can cater for the additional potential prolonged durations, which might include additional propping, phasing of work areas etc.
• There are disadvantages in the use of HVO such as machine output, but the emission saving is worth it to have a measurable positive environmental impact.
Would you recommend this to others?
​
Yes – Certainly construction companies, and Supply Chain Sustainability School engagement would be recommended by way of offering relevant CPD accredited training modules.
What is your number 1 recommendation for others?
​
To be the company of choice regarding Net Zero ambition; whether as a contractor working for a client or a subcontractor working for a contractor, the more companies that have that as a priority, the quicker we can meet the 2050 Government target.
Adrian Clamp FCIOB CEnv PIEMA BREEAM AP-Site
Sustainability & Systems Director, J Coffey Construction​
