Decarbonisation - Episode 20 | Tom Robinson

Construction Disrupted

One thing that has been a constant on this podcast is the fact that most of our guests are the kinda people that are actually doing something they care about and you’ll hear a lot of that on this episode – more on that later.

When you hear the word Decarbonisation it’s easy to be flippant about what is being discussed. It is one of the buzzwords in construction that is easy to say, and harder to do, especially if you are a large organisation built on traditional ways of working, with a diverse supply chain and a reliance on contracting out a lot of the work that is required.

But how does this sector navigate the path from mere (and sometimes over-inflated) environmental claims to genuine, effective strategies that change the way in which construction goes about its business?

To understand this and gain an insight into the current state of play we’ll look to shed some light on what it truly takes to construct buildings with minimal environmental impact – or at least look to sustainable methods of building that are less reliant on the planet's finite resources.

It's often a challenge to persuade sceptics that sustainability isn't just the latest buzzword. We'll delve into the art of substantiating the case for sustainable construction and the long-term benefits it can bring and explore whether it's feasible to usher in a significant change in an industry known for its resistance to innovation.

So where do we start? Innovating new products, reimagining design, educating the workforce, upgrading equipment, streamlining logistics, tackling existing building stock, or embracing novel construction methods? It’s a long list and there may not be one simple, universally agreed-upon answer here. But let's see where we get to shall we?

Our guest today is Tom Robinson, founder of Adaptavate, with a vision to consolidate the company as the world’s leader in the development and global deployment of carbon negative building products.

A former builder, a planet-centric systems thinker, and an industrialist whose belief is that industrial businesses can do both planetary good and economically well. But how did he get to this point? Oddly enough it was the book ‘Let my people go surfing. ‘The Education of a Reluctant Businessman’ by Patagonia founder: Yvon Chouinard (evon sch-weenard) which Tom was reading while embracing a simple, minimal, and ecological way of living and travelling the world.

Tom began his ‘working life’ as an on-site builder and plasterer before studying for a Masters in Sustainable Architecture and through his thesis, Tom developed what is now known as ‘Breathaboard’, a carbon-negative alternative to plasterboard, followed by other products such as Breathaplasta.

And now the pinnacle of his career, being inducted into the Construction Disrupted Hall of Fame. Tom, I’m afraid it’s all downhill from here!

Topics Covered

- Greenwashing vs carbon reduction – how does the industry transition through this?

- What are the key principles and practices around low carbon construction

- Trying to change a traditional industry - is it possible?

- Where do we start; products, design, people, equipment, logistics, current stock, new methods?

- Construction can be all about cost, above most things. Are there long-term cost-savings in decarbonisation?

- Is the government doing enough?

- Emerging trends in low carbon construction you find exciting

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Website: https://www.builddifferent.marketing/

Further Links

https://adaptavate.com/

https://makersite.io/insights/whitepaper-the-cost-of-greenwashing/#:~:text=A%20study%20commissioned%20by%20the,to%20being%20guilty%20of%20greenwashing.

https://www.cic.org.uk/policy-and-public-affairs/climate-change#:~:text=The%20built%20environment%20and%20construction,size%20of%20Paris%20every%20week.

https://theconstructor.org/building/12-basic-components-building-structure/34024/#:~:text=The%20basic%20components%20of%20a,and%20protecting%20the%20building%20structure.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-property-sustainability-strategy/government-property-sustainability-strategy-2022-2030-html#:~:text=In%20June%202019%2C%20the%20government,2050%20Target%20Amendment)%20Order%202019.

https://www.british-assessment.co.uk/insights/the-cost-benefits-of-sustainable-buildings-and-construction/

Mentioned in this episode:

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