Sustainability
Taking responsibility
The BRG Technologies Circular Economy
1. Fabric First
Our “fabric first” design approach in choice of materials produces mission critical infrastructure with industry leading thermal transmittance and air permeability performance and reduces the quantity of materials required by selecting ones that are more appropriate for a factory assembly process. Some examples of our approach are the steel we use for our superstructures that contains at least 25% recycled content, sourced from local steel fabricators, and the floor protection and HDPE boat wrap used for transport are closed loop recycling products meaning all waste generated from these sources will be fully recycled and will be used as the raw materials for these products again and again.
2. Factory First
‘Factory first’ is our off-site, product-based method for manufacturing up to 90% of our infrastructure technology in our tightly controlled manufacturing centre. It maximises the principle of off-site construction. The process mitigates the risks and issues associated with more conventional construction: we use less materials and create less waste; we can re-use and recycle more, diverting unused materials or offcuts from landfill; we avoid damage and delays caused by weather; and we reduce project transport emissions by minimising the materials and tradespeople heading to site.
3. In Use
Our infrastructure technology is designed to operate as efficiently as possible. BladeRoom data centres are designed to maximise the use of fresh air cooling and minimise the use of potable water, with a hyperscale data centre using up to 34,000x less water per year than one person in the UK. Our ModuleCo healthcare facilities are designed with air permeability and thermal transmittance performance beyond the requirements of building control, minimising the heating and cooling requirements throughout the year, as well being specified with energy efficient products as standard. Altogether this helps to minimise the carbon emissions generated through the operation of our infrastructure technology.
4. Re-Use
Our buildings are designed to be relocated and re-used. When they are no longer required, instead of being demolished, they can be decanted and transported to another site to be installed and used once again. Some of our buildings have been decanted and transported to a new site several times, proving that our approach to design and off-site construction can prolong the useable life of a building and help minimise its impact on the environment.
5. Recycle
We avoid using materials that cannot be easily recycled, such as concrete, favouring recyclable construction materials like steel that can be fully recycled at the end of their usable life. Our deliberate choice of recyclable materials means the building fabric becomes part of the materials we use to manufacture our new infrastructure technology instead of ending up in landfill.
Our Business
BRG Technologies is committed to reducing the impact our business activities have on the planet. Our carbon reduction strategy sets out a plan to reduce our carbon emissions by 10% each year and report on our performance biannually, increase the amount of factory waste we recycle by 50% and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
To solidify our commitment, we have signed The Climate Pledge, a 375+ strong community of companies, organisations, individuals and partners, working together to tackle the climate crisis who have publicly committed to be net zero carbon businesses by 2040.
Our People
We understand that looking after our planet is everyone’s responsibility and we encourage our employees to reduce their own carbon footprint. Our team are incentivised to use public transport, use non-polluting forms of transport and ride share when they can. Our headquarters provide car charging points free-of-charge to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
Our designs
The design of our technology and our ‘fabric first’ approach to our choice of materials produces mission-critical infrastructure with industry-leading thermal transmittance and air permeability performance, improving the sustainability of the building by reducing heating and cooling requirements. It means that, where possible, we use materials that are recycled or contain recycled content, that are recyclable at the end of their life, and that are sourced locally. Altogether, this helps minimise the embodied and operational carbon emissions attributed to our facilities, helping our clients to minimise the carbon footprint of a project and the future carbon emissions associated with the operation of their building.
Reduce
RE-USE
Recycle
Our Methods
Our pioneering approach takes off-site construction methodology to another level. In doing so we have productised our infrastructure technology. We have a ‘Factory First’ obsession to minimise programme, cost and quality risks by completing up to 90% of the construction processes in our tightly controlled manufacturing centre. We have greater control over activity and use of materials, reducing waste and creating a more sustainable building. Fewer materials are wasted and more than 90% of the waste we produce on-site can be recycled.
Our technology
The infrastructure technology that we manufacture is designed from the outset to be as operationally efficient as possible, minimising the power and water used in their operation. Many of our facilities are relocatable, meaning that they can be reused and upgraded if required, instead of being demolished and recycled. This helps our clients minimise their carbon footprint and reduces the lifetime financial and carbon costs of our infrastructure.
