SRIA Enviromental Sustainabilty Policy (ESP)

16-Aug-2010 Download PDF version here

SRIA’s goal is to encourage the economic, elegant and innovative design and construction of reinforced concrete structures through practical solutions to meet the diverse and ever changing needs of the Australian building industry. SRIA Members support Environmental Sustainability to measure and benchmark the industry’s environmental, social and economic performance. This is a continual process of benchmarking, monitoring and measuring progress. The SRIA has established and maintains global networks to deliver improvement programs of responsible best practice to the local steel reinforcement sector.

SRIA’S REINFORCING SUSTAINABILITY POLICY HAS THE FOLLOWING INTER-RELIANT CORE OBJECTIVES:

Environmental leadership and sustainable construction materials support sustainable development and are characterised as being environmentally friendly. SRIA focuses on the characteristics of steel reinforcing materials to promote the minimum environmental, social and economic impact.

They include:
• Durability;
• Local or regional processing to minimise transportation needs;
• Manufactured with minimised pollution or does not itself pollute;
• Minimum amount of energy required to produce;
• Commitment to the promotion of recovery and recycling;
• Capable of being used in an innovative way to lessen social, environmental, and economic impacts.

The SRIA supports the Building Products Innovation Council (BPIC) in its three major areas of building code reform, product certification, and sustainability. Reinforcement data has being submitted to a National materials data base that will create a “level playing field” for all construction materials. This is part of a Life Cycle Inventory for construction materials. It will be used in Life Cycle Assessment, and ultimately in Sustainability Rating Tools for more energy efficient and sustainable commercial and residential building construction.

Safety and health

SRIA promotes industry wellbeing and a safe and healthy working environment. Monthly LTI’s and MTI’s of participating member companies are recorded. This data enables member companies to compare and benchmark their safety record against the National industry. The aim is to achieve an accident-free workplace with zero harm to all steel reinforcing industry employees and contractors.

Community well-being

Clients who emphasise sustainable development want to know if steel reinforcing is a sustainable construction ('green') material. Sustainable development requires the selection and sensible application of sustainable construction material. SRIA is contributing to rating tools and educates the market in minimising the environmental, social and economic impact of steel reinforced solutions.

Economic responsibility

SRIA members seek new technologies and systems to operate businesses in an efficient and financially sustainable way with a reduced carbon footprint. Products are optimised for life cycle eco-efficiency throughout the stages of production, application, recovery and recycling. 

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