Modular building supplier Portakabin Group leads the way in sustainable building

Portakabin Group, the UK’s leading modular building supplier and manufacturer, has announced significant savings in carbon emissions following the implementation of an energy saving and environmental policy across its business. Portakabin saw a 17% year on year reduction in carbon emissions, decreasing by 643 tonnes over the last 12 months alone – equivalent to 338 flights from London Heathrow to Sydney. The new environmental policy is part of the Portakabin commitment to sustainability along with the development of more environmentally friendly modular building products and services.

Portakabin was the first modular building company to announce its commitment to meeting the challenges set out in the Major Contractors Group Sustainability Charter¹. This sets out priorities, measures and actions aimed at building a track record and reputation for success in sustainable building across the construction industry. It includes a commitment towards continual improvement in the areas of waste minimisation and management, energy consumption and reducing adverse environmental incidents and the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

David Shaw, Marketing and Technical Director at Portakabin, said, ‘Sustainability is an area we take very seriously at Portakabin. We have a company energy saving forum, designed to ensure we are energy efficient and have improved our production processes regarding waste segregation at our Huntington manufacturing site. We have also recognised the important role that sustainability plays in our product development programme. ‘During 2006, in addition to the 17% year on year reduction in carbon emissions from our Huntington site, we have also continued to progressively increase the percentage of waste that is recycled to over 60%. In addition we have seen a 50% reduction in the cost of waste sent to landfill over the last three years. ‘On product development, our Ultima modular building is an excellent example of an energy efficient structure, and tests conducted by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) have proven that it exceeds the Building Regulations Part L Air Permeability Requirements by 70%.’ Following the success of their environmental policy, Portakabin are now offering advice to other organisations on how to be more environmentally friendly and to help reduce their carbon footprint. Future plans to improve the environmental performance of both the Portakabin Group and its buildings include the introduction of brand new, cutting edge software – another first for the modular building industry. Notes to Editors Porta and Portakabin are trade marks.