In recent years, social sustainability in the construction industry has become an increasingly important aspect of building projects — but what is social sustainability? Let’s get into this subject and find out more.
What Is Social Sustainability?
This is one of three sustainability pillars that can be applied to construction — social, environmental and economic. But today, we’re going to focus on the social pillar.
Social sustainability in construction encompasses practices put in place to improve the well-being of employees, communities and the wider society. These “fair practices” could include engagement with the community and being mindful of diversity and inclusion. This is not just morally prudent but also ensures adherence to growing regulatory demands and stakeholder expectations and can enhance the project’s value. When these construction elements are considered, it makes space for a more socially responsible industry with untold hidden benefits.
A strong sense of social sustainability in a construction project can help a schedule run smoothly, reduce local conflict, keep employees healthy and happy so productivity can thrive, and boost a firm’s reputation.
Community Engagement and Development
One key aspect of social sustainability in construction is community engagement and development. This part of the sustainability pillar would encourage projects to engage in activities such as open communication with the local communities. It is important to understand their needs and perspectives and offer community benefits programs when possible. Another key aspect of this area of sustainability in construction is updating local people with project updates through open forums.
Examples of community benefit programs that would improve the quality of life for the residents and surrounding locals could include:
- Providing local employment opportunities
- Creating educational workshops
- Developing community spaces, such as parks or a community hub.
These types of beneficial projects can profoundly impact local communities, with elements such as better economic growth, improved infrastructure, and a greater sense of social cohesion, to name a few. On the other hand, when construction projects are completed without considering the local community, they could be vulnerable to the discontentment of residents and an area that is worse off. Therefore, active engagement with the local community and society around a construction project is key to ensuring all are involved and on board and that each construction project can elevate the feeling of the area and its residents instead of hurting it.
Workforce Well-Being and Safety
Social sustainability in construction considers the needs of local communities and residents and how best to benefit them and the area. It also urges project managers and contractors to consider the well-being and safety of their employees. This will directly impact productivity, morale, and project success and ensure a safe workplace.
Key elements of this area of social sustainability could include:
- Risk assessments to highlight any risk
- Safety training to implement changes to minimise those risks
- Regular site inspections to ensure all safety laws and regulations are adhered to.
- Initiatives to support employee mental health.
For construction projects putting politics or programmes in place to protect the well-being and mental health of employees, there are many options to consider. Whether that is creating positive and communicative work environments, promoting work/life balance or providing access to mental health services or resources, these are elements that construction projects or businesses can put in place to boost social sustainability for their workers.
Diversity and Inclusion in Construction
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is critical for all businesses, not just construction companies. It is another key consideration in the realm of social sustainability. This is not only about aiming for diversity across the workforce but also about ensuring comprehensive D&I training, so employees are well informed about creating an inclusive workplace with equal opportunities.
Some key tips for making sure D&I features in the workplace or during a construction project could include:
- Regular diversity audits
- Setting diversity goals
- Take steps to create an inclusive culture for all employees.
In addition to being a positive force within the construction industry, this will increase morale and the company’s reputation.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Management
Another key part of sustainability is ensuring the quality of materials and services used within a construction company or project. These could include working with and promoting those who uphold social and environmental standards. This helps encourage fair labour practices, reduces damage to the environment, and boosts a company’s reputation.
Ways to implement ethical sourcing in the supply chain could be:
- Supplier audits
- Fostering long-term relationships with suppliers
- Pairing with highly reputable suppliers.
Regulatory Framework and Standards
Along with the general health and safety laws and regulations, contractors and construction companies should be aware of two pertinent standards. These are:
- BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guides sustainable construction practices.
These standards promote energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and improve occupant health.
In conclusion, social sustainability in construction is essential to consider right from the start of a project. Allowing local communities to be heard and involved, encouraging healthy well-being within staff, ensuring ethical supply chains and promoting diversity and inclusion can hugely impact the project. Ripple effects will touch all of those associated with the project. Keeping to these high standards will boost your company’s reputation and help retain a high-quality workforce.
Veriforce CHAS and Social Sustainability
CHAS Social Sustainability by Veriforce CHAS is an independently verified assessment that benchmarks contractors and buyer-based organisations (clients) against various ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors. This comprehensive CHAS assessment promotes transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain, which can have the following effects:
Greater Credibility: Independent verification, such as the CHAS Social Sustainability assessment, objectively evaluates a business’s social sustainability efforts, enhancing credibility and reliability. CHAS’s process uses a rigorous assessment to provide a maturity rating rather than a simple pass/fail outcome for a clearer understanding of their practices.
Competitive Advantage: Completing the CHAS Social Sustainability assessment signifies a commitment to high social responsibility standards. Social sustainability verification not only builds trust with clients, employees, and other stakeholders but also provides a significant competitive advantage in an increasingly conscientious market for both supplier and construction projects.
Reputation Protection: By completing this assessment, companies protect their reputation by ensuring supply chains are ethically and socially responsible. This helps mitigate risks associated with social sustainability issues, safeguarding the company’s public image, as we have already mentioned.
Completing the CHAS Social Sustainability assessment also means taking a proactive approach to supply chain management — one that champions social sustainability. The assessment service not only helps a company’s long-term commercial success through making current projects more robust, but also helps them secure future projects while contributing to a more sustainable and equitable world.
