Though the construction industry does generate millions of tons of waste each year, some of it gets repurposed or recycled. In 2018, 455 million tons were redirected for use in markets like aggregates, compost and fuel, among others.

Known as “beneficial reuse,” this technique can be employed as a method not only to divert waste from landfills but also to reduce material demands and costs on other jobsites. Using sustainable materials during the construction process:

• Helps reduce overall building costs by lowering purchasing, disposal and transportation expenses (and some materials can be donated to charities for a tax benefit)
• Lessens environmental impact caused by the extraction of resources
• Saves space in landfills

In working with recyclers, try to find facilities that are both certified through the Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) and LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) compliant.

Buildings account for 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. “Green” buildings reduce negative environmental impacts through their construction, operation or design. According to the World Green Building Council, many different factors can make a building green:

• Energy-, water- or resource-efficient
  
• Non-toxic, sustainable building materials
• Alternative energy options like solar or wind
• Design or construction that’s considerate of the environment
• Design or construction that improves occupants’ quality of life

In the U.S., green buildings are more energy efficient, consuming 25% less energy and 11% less water than non-green buildings. They’re also good for your bottom line — they can help reduce overall operating costs and have already led to more job growth in the U.S. over the last decade.

Going paperless is another way to reduce environmental impacts and build a more sustainable construction company. With digital fleet management tools like the Cat^® App, VisionLink^® and Cat Inspect, you can access all of the data you need to keep your equipment running smoothly, including location, hours and machine health. In addition to reducing paper waste, these digital tools help you stay more organized and make it easier to work on-the-go.