Sustainability is a competitive advantage in the construction industry

Why has sustainability in the construction industry become inevitable? Where are industry players in Hungary in this field? The latest guest of the Spakli’21 podcast was Péter Kálmán, CEO of Óbuda Group and President of the Sustainability Section, who was interviewed by Josános Bene.

Taking responsibility for the future

The construction industry uses 40 percent of the country's total energy resources. The industry can thus have a huge impact on reducing energy dependence and on savings. The construction sector can play an equally important role in waste management, as 52 percent of the waste generated is related to the construction industry and the buildings themselves, said Péter Kálmán. The CEO of Óbuda Group also highlighted the quality of building materials - the effects of microplastics and solvents - and the fact that the various green building certification systems take a serious look at the materials used.

The Zöld minimum package of proposals awaits decision-makers

ÉVOSZ, which has been in operation for less than six months, has produced a package of proposals Zöld minimum, which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Industry and other decision-makers.

The aim is to make environmental considerations mandatory in construction projects, first for public and municipal projects above the EU threshold, and then for all other construction projects over time.

The proposal summarises the environmental considerations that designers, contractors and operators must take into account. These include energy saving, recycling, reducing emissions or providing a more liveable indoor environment.

I can't do it alone

Péter Kálmán also said that companies operating in ÉVOSZ have recognised that

Sustainability cannot be handled by one profession, so it is not just the responsibility of the designer or builder. It needs to be joined up at sectoral level, which is how the first chapter of ÉVOSZ was born, bringing together the whole construction vertical.

The CEO of Óbuda Group also pointed out that a survey showed that 62% of the responding companies have a sustainability strategy in their management, but in very different ways.

Support for sustainable construction

The professional organisation provides support by preparing best practices and model documents for its members to implement sustainability considerations. It also urges the involvement of EU and state funds to finance the additional costs of around 0-5 per cent associated with complying with green building certifications.
The broadcast provides insight into how sustainability can be interpreted not only as a principle, but also as a practical competitive advantage. The podcast is available by clicking on the link below.