At H&MV Engineering, we’re committed to leading the charge on sustainability and environmental responsibility within our industry. One shining example of this is our unique partnership with Glasgow Wood, a social enterprise that turns our wood waste into valuable products while creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals.
Waste Not, Want Not: Turning Trash into Treasure
The origins of this partnership trace back to the start of one of our projects in Scotland, just outside of Glasgow. As our site team began to accumulate significant volumes of wood waste from material packaging, our Environmental Advisor, Jason Alexander-Hain, recognised an opportunity to divert this from landfill. He quickly connected with the team at Glasgow Wood, a charity that collects waste wood and transforms it into useful items like outdoor furniture, homeware, and even biomass fuel.
“It just made sense to work with Glasgow Wood,” says Jason. “They were happy to take our wood waste off our hands, and in doing so, we’re supporting their mission of providing employment and training to people facing barriers to work.”
Greener Pastures: The Environmental Impact
The process is straightforward – whenever our sites generate wood waste, the Glasgow Wood team dispatches a van to collect it, sorting and processing the materials at their facility. This not only keeps tons of wood out of landfills, but also provides meaningful work for the charity’s staff, who are individuals from their community who need the opportunity the most. Glasgow Wood providing these opportunities goes beyond access to an income, it also offers its employees a sense of purpose and community that helps change their lives.
While we don’t have exact figures, our partnership with Glasgow Wood has undoubtedly had a significant environmental impact. According to Business Waste, the UK generates over 4.5 million tonnes of wood waste annually, with construction and demolition responsible for nearly half.[1] By diverting this waste stream, we’re contributing to a more circular economy and reducing our carbon footprint.
But the benefits of this collaboration extend beyond just environmental sustainability. Glasgow Wood’s social enterprise model aligns perfectly with H&MV’s commitment to making a positive impact on the communities in which we operate.
Expanding the Eco-Friendly Footprint
As we continue to grow our business, H&MV is actively exploring opportunities to expand this type of partnership to our other project sites across the UK. By working hand-in-hand with local social enterprises, we can multiply our positive impact, driving circularity and inclusion in equal measure.
[1] Business Waste – https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/your-waste/waste-wood-collection/wood-recycling-facts-and-statistics/