United Civil understands that our operations have a direct impact on the environment and our local community. That’s why we’re taking a proactive approach to sustainability in the construction industry.
We have used the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to shape our approach to sustainability. While there are 17 Goals in total, we’ve identified the following four that will have the biggest impact when applied to our business.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
We’ve committed to halving our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (relative to 2019 levels) and to be net zero carbon by 2043, ahead of national targets. This will primarily be achieved through the decarbonisation of our light and heavy vehicle fleets.
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and full and productive employment and decent work for all
United Civil is a locally owned and operated company that provides full-time productive employment and opportunities to people in Te Tai Tokerau and across the North Island of New Zealand. We make sure all our employees earn at least New Zealand’s living wage.
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
United Civil builds high quality, resilient, civil infrastructure across the North Island of New Zealand. Our innovative approach to construction is a cornerstone value of the business, and we’ll continue to seek out new ideas to further improve the sustainability of the built environment.
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
We consider material sources, freight distances and supply chain ethics when selecting products and services. We are also actively working towards minimising waste, and using innovative solutions and local relationships to recycle and reuse construction material.
Our sustainability journey roadmap shows how we will achieve these Goals as we move towards a more sustainable future.
Our initial focus is on reducing our emissions (SDG 13), but we will be expanding our sustainability plan to incorporate more Sustainability Development Goals over the coming year.
For more information on sustainability at United Civil, please contact us
100% Emissions Intensity Reduction
NetZero Electricity Supplier: All of United Civil’s purchased electricity is certified climate positive wind, hydro, or solar.
Electric Vehicle Trial: In 2023, United Civil purchased two BYD Long Range Atto 3’s to test the use of electric vehicles in our business.
Main Office Charging: United Civil has one DC and three AC electric vehicle chargers at our main Whangarei office.
Idling Targets Set: Idling times of our heavy and light fleet is tracked with telematics, company-wide targets have been set to minimise unnecessary fuel use.
Start Light Fleet Conversion to Electric SUVs: At the end of 2023, United Civil will have seven electric vehicles in our fleet.
At-Home Charging: As more electric vehicles are added to our fleet, United Civil will provide at-home charging solutions for our employees.
Focus on Additional Sustainability Development Goals: United Civil will broaden its current sustainability strategy to encompass further focus areas from the UN’s SDGs, such as waste management, social sustainability and water usage.
Energy Efficiency Initiatives: We are continually working to reduce our overall energy usage through energy conservation best practice; carpooling, avoiding unnecessary travel, design considerations, and reducing material double handling are just a few of our initiatives, with more coming in the future.
Project Level Reporting: By 2025, United Civil will be able to offer carbon inventory reporting at a project level.
Continue Light Fleet Conversion To Electric Utes: From 2030 onwards, we anticipate United Civil will transition the balance of its light felt to electric utes, as more construction specific EV’s arrive on the New Zealand market.
Heavy Vehicle Decarbonisation: Converting our heavy fleet to low-carbon alternatives is the largest unknown of our decarbonisation plan. Low carbon alternatives are likely to be hydrogen or battery powered.
100% Emissions Intensity Reduction
In 2022, United Civil pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity to net zero by 2043.
As a civil construction business, the majority of our emissions are generated by our fleet. We already have four vehicle chargers at our main offices, including a 30kW DC charger, and two electric vehicles with plans to purchase more over the coming year. Our electricity is certified net-zero, which means the operating emissions from our electric vehicles are zero.
“United Civil commits to reducing its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes CO2e/$ sales) by 50% by the end of calendar year 2033 and by 100% by the end of calendar year 2043 (net zero), relative to 2019 levels.”
Whilst decarbonising our light fleet will be a relatively straightforward process, our heavy fleet (which includes our excavators, graders, rollers and haulage trucks) presents a much bigger challenge, with limited or no alternative options currently available. We are exploring the potential of using electric plants, but we anticipate that for larger, heavier machinery, hydrogen will be our fuel of the future. In the meantime, there is still much we can do to reduce our carbon emissions. We are currently focusing on reducing our idling times, eliminating unnecessary travel, optimising our fleet usage and making sure our fleet is maintained to run as efficiently as possible.
United Civil is also proud to have been a core part of the project team for several renewable energy projects around New Zealand. We successfully completed works at two large geothermal power stations – Ngawha (now 57MW) and Tauhara (174 MW)– and we’re due to finish the civil works for New Zealand’s first ever grid-scale battery project (100 MW) in Ruakākā in 2024.
