Environmental Sustainability: Report on Polunt Construction Strategies

This report delves into environmental sustainability, focusing on Polunt Construction Ltd. It examines the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, highlighting its importance in achieving sustainable development by balancing environmental, social, and economic factors. The report explores sustainable construction practices, emphasizing energy efficiency, the use of natural materials, and waste management initiatives. It presents a sustainability report for Polunt Construction Ltd., detailing its strategies, organizational profile, and the application of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. The analysis covers economic, environmental, and social indicators, technical protocols, and strategies such as using natural materials, applying CASBEE, and conducting market research to align with sustainable building designs. The report concludes by emphasizing the challenges and importance of environmental sustainability in the construction industry.

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental Sustainability
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note:

2ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
Executive Summary
This current report focuses on the sustainable development in the context of Polunt
construction limited. However, Triple bottom line or TBL is an effective framework that
highlights on the environmental, social and economic sustainability. Sustainable development
and the TBL have the close relationship as both focus on the protection of the environment,
economy and social development. However, it is important for the construction industry to make
the sustainable design for their buildings that reduce the energy consumption and carbon
emission. On the other hand, use of natural materials in the building construction will be an
effective strategy for gaining sustainable development. The managerial approach by carrying out
the waste management initiative is beneficial for Polunt construction limited.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
General concepts of Triple Bottom Lines of TBL and the sustainable development......................5
Relationship between the TBL and Sustainable development........................................................6
Importance of TBL in achieving sustainable development.............................................................7
Concept of sustainable construction and the role of TBL in sustainable construction....................8
Sustainability report for Polunt Construction Ltd...........................................................................9
An introduction of the Polunt Construction Ltd........................................................................10
Strategies of Polunt Construction Ltd to achieve sustainable development..............................11
Profile of the organization..........................................................................................................13
Parameters of sustainability reporting........................................................................................14
Discussion of commitment, governance and engagement.........................................................16
Approaches took by management..............................................................................................17
Challenges occur during the reporting of sustainability................................................................18
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................18
References......................................................................................................................................20

4ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
Introduction
Environmental sustainability is a practice that consists of many factors to maintain the
quality of the environment for a long term basis. However, in the recent years, the natural
resources are decreasing rapidly due to the development of multiple industries in worldwide that
is a big concern for the government of all countries. Environmental sustainability aims to
preserve the natural resources and to develop alternative energy sources to reduce harm form the
environment1. However, it is important for the construction projects to bring sustainable
development to reduce the impact of the construction organizations on the environment.
Sustainable development focuses on the establishment of energy efficient models in order to
remove the energy consumption.
Installation of solar panel and the wind generation techniques at the construction sites
will be the effective approaches to achieve sustainable development in then environment2.
Environmental sustainability is important for the business organizations as it is a process that
fulfills the needs of the present generation without affecting the need for the future generation.
1 Anthony Swaim, James, James Anthony Swaim, Michael J. Maloni, Michael J. Maloni, Amy Henley, Amy
Henley, Stacy Campbell, and Stacy Campbell. "Motivational influences on supply manager environmental
sustainability behavior." Supply Chain Management: An International Journal 21, no. 3 (2016): 305-320.
2 Júnior, Antônio Djalma Nunes Ferraz, André Ricardo L. Damásio, Douglas Antonio Alvaredo Paixão, Thabata
Maria Alvarez, and Fabio Marcio Squina. "Applied Metagenomics for Biofuel Development and Environmental
Sustainability." In Advances in Basic Science for Second Generation Bioethanol from Sugarcane, pp. 107-129.
Springer International Publishing, 2017.

5ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
The prime focus of the sustainable development is to preserve the wetland. This current study
deals with the importance of environmental sustainability in the context of the Polunt
Construction Ltd. Therefore, the strategies to maintain the sustainable development by Polunt
Construction Ltd will be addressed in this section.
General concepts of Triple Bottom Lines of TBL and the sustainable development
Triple Bottom Line refers to a framework that is used in accounting. This framework
contains three components including environmental, financial and social components. However,
the business organizations use such framework to generate their business value3. Such TBL
framework enables the business organizations to maintain the corporate social responsibility
during their operation. However, the business industry can maintain cooperation between the
social, environmental and economic value. Maintenance of the environmental sustainability is a
growing concern for the business industry especially for the construction sectors hence, by
adopting the TBL framework the business organizations are able to maintain the CSR activities
by developing environmental sustainability.
Sustainable development highlights on the maintenance of the balance between the
social, environmental and economic limitations in the world. The environmental limitation is the
central concern of the sustainable development4. However, it is crucial for the business
3 Alshuwaikhat, Habib M., Ismaila R. Abubakar, Yusuf A. Aina, Yusuf A. Adenle, and Muhammad Umair. "The
Development of a GIS-Based Model for Campus Environmental Sustainability Assessment." Sustainability 9, no. 3
(2017): 439.
4 Ellram, Lisa M., and Monique L. Ueltschy Murfield. "Environmental Sustainability in Freight Transportation: A
Systematic Literature Review and Agenda for Future Research." Transportation Journal 56, no. 3 (2017): 263-298.

6ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
organizations to meet the diverse requirements of the present by protecting the natural resources
of the environment. Hence, by using TBL framework sustainable development can be achieved.
Relationship between the TBL and Sustainable development
The TBL and the sustainable development have the common goal as both focus on the
economic, social and environmental development5. However, TBL measures social
environmental and economic sustainability that is the vital component of sustainable
development. Key principles of the sustainable development include humility principle,
reversibility principle, and the precautionary principle. Humility principle focuses on the
limitation of human knowledge while precautionary principle focuses on the advocates' caution.
However, reversibility principle includes irreversible change. Key themes of sustainable
development show concern about limited earth resources development that reduces the
biodiversity and challenges for the future generation.
The key themes of the TBL are people, planet, and profit. People stand for social
sustainability, planet stands for environmental sustainability and profit stands for economic
sustainability. Hence, there is a strong relationship between the TBL and SD as both show
concern regarding the environment, economic and environmental resources. However, the
continuation of the current development, effect of the pollution and problems of future
generation are the key questions regarding the sustainable development6. Hence, it is important
5 Yakovleva, Natalia, Juha Kotilainen, and Maija Toivakka. "Reflections on the opportunities for mining companies
to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in sub–Saharan Africa." The Extractive
Industries and Society (2017).
6 Ho, Shih Ping, Chong Yang Yu, and Yaowen Hsu. "A Contingency View of the Strategies of Sustainable
Development and Disclosure: Study of ENR's Top 10 Contractors." In EGU General Assembly Conference
Abstracts, vol. 19, p. 19619. 2017.

7ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
for the construction business to take necessary steps in their business to reduce the challenges
related to sustainability.
Importance of TBL in achieving sustainable development
TBL includes environmental, social and economic components that are essential to
measure to bring sustainable development. Accountability of the TBL focuses on the
identification of the social, environmental and economic resources. However, such identification
enables the business sectors to understand the use of the natural resources, economic resources
and the need of society7. Therefore, the measurability feature of TBL highlights on the cost
benefit analysis and the limitation of the environmental resources in a business. TBL measures
the challenges regarding the social and ecological health. As for example, TBL helps to measure
the remaining wetland in a country as the creation of wetland is one of the important approaches
to sustainable development, which maintains the balance in the environment. Benchmarking is
another feature of TBL that addresses the sustainability performance according to the laws and
government regulation. Benchmarking enables the organizations to bring suitability by taking
CSR activities by preserving their environment resources8.
7 Laurian, Lucie, Mark Walker, and Jan Crawford. "Implementing Environmental Sustainability in Local
Government: The Impacts of Framing, Agency Culture, and Structure in US Cities and Counties." International
Journal of Public Administration 40, no. 3 (2017): 270-283.
8 Tilman, David, and Michael Clark. "Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health." Nature 515,
no. 7528 (2014): 518-522.

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Concept of sustainable construction and the role of TBL in sustainable construction
Sustainable construction is the green building that includes the processes, which is
resource efficient and environmentally responsible during the planning of a building design to its
complete construction process9. Sustainable construction is an energy efficient process and
focuses on the use of natural materials with the sustainable design of the building.
Maintenance of economic growth, identification of the social needs and protecting the
environmental resources are the prime areas of sustainable construction. Hence, TBL helps the
construction firm to measure their job growth and sales revenue generation that enables them to
achieve sustainable economic growth. Percentage of population, the average income of the
people is measured by TBL and the construction organization is able to secure their stakeholders'
participation through designing the TBL framework, which brings social sustainability.
Therefore, the environmental measure includes quality of air, water, and consumption of energy
and natural resources. Such measurement through TBL framework leads the construction
organization to develop the strategy by using alternative and natural materials for green
construction, which allows them to achieve environmental sustainability10.
9 Malhotra, Arvind, Nigel P. Melville, and Richard T. Watson. "Spurring impactful research on information systems
for environmental sustainability." MIS Quarterly 37, no. 4 (2013): 1265-1274.
10 Tsai, Wen-Hsien, Sin-Jin Lin, Ya-Fen Lee, Yao-Chung Chang, and Jui-Ling Hsu. "Construction method selection
for green building projects to improve environmental sustainability by using an MCDM approach." Journal of
Environmental Planning and Management 56, no. 10 (2013): 1487-1510.

9ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability report for Polunt Construction Ltd.
Global reporting framework is a beneficial approach to evaluate the social, economic and
environmental performance of an organization. Hence, the application of Global Reporting
Framework (GRI) in context of Polunt Construction Ltd will be helpful to achieve the
sustainable development. Protocols, principles, standard disclosure and sectors supplement are
the main components of GRI.
Figure 1: Global Reporting Initiative Framework
(Source:11)
11 Murtagh, Niamh, Aeli Roberts, and Richard Hind. "The role of environmental sustainability in the marketing of
small architectural design practices." Construction Management and Economics 34, no. 4-5 (2016): 258-271.

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An introduction of the Polunt Construction Ltd.
Polunt construction ltd. is a large construction company situated in Australia. This
company operates the construction business in Dubai, UK and other countries besides the
Australia. However, this organization aims to achieve sustainable development in terms of
social, economic and especially the environment as the environment is the prime areas of the
construction business. The mission of such company is to fulfill the present needs of the
customers by preserving the natural resources during their construction project. However, it is
important for the construction industry to maintain the environmental sustainability during their
business as construction business affects the stability of natural resources12. This organization
focuses on the green construction approach. Building sectors consume high energy and execute a
large amount of green house gas. Hence, the purpose of such organization is to use natural
materials for their building design in order to reduce the high energy consumption and emission
green house gas. However, Polunt construction Ltd also takes CSR activities to by using
alternative energy sources in their business, which also reduces the destruction of the natural
resources of the environment. In the case of Australia buildings are the main source of green
house gas emission hence, keeping this in mind Polunt construction ltd sets their target to
achieve environmental sustainability in their business.
Strategies of Polunt Construction Ltd to achieve sustainable development
Development of the strategy for the sustainable development is categorized under the
standard disclosure of the GRI guideline. However, it is important for any construction
12 Vintró, Carla, Lluís Sanmiquel, and Modesto Freijo. "Environmental sustainability in the mining sector: evidence
from Catalan companies." Journal of cleaner production 84 (2014): 155-163.

11ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
organization to understand the performance indicators before developing any strategy for their
sustainable growth. Economic indicator focuses on the economic performance and the present
market status while environmental indicators focus on the materials, energy consumption and
emission of gas during the construction operation. Hence, based on such indicators the
organizations are able to understand their, economic, social and environmental requirements to
achieve sustainable development. Technical protocol is a vital area of GRI guideline hence, by
developing the technical strategy during building construction leads the construction company to
achieve sustainable development13.
Use of air to air heat exchanger is beneficial for Polunt construction to reduce the
emission of heat at their construction site. Therefore reduction of embodied energy is effective to
establish the building design, which can exist for a long time. The material is another big factor
in the construction process thus section of natural materials is a crucial strategy for acquiring
sustainable development in the context of Polunt construction. Hence, use of clay bricks,
aluminum, and dry plywood are beneficial for construction business to reduce the embodied
energy14. Application of the locally sourced and low maintenance material will enable Polunt
construction to get economic sustainability as local materials are found at the low price and low
maintenance will reduce the business cost. Selection of low energy materials that can be highly
13 Khatib, Jamal, ed. Sustainability of construction materials. Woodhead Publishing, 2016.
14 Rajala, Risto, Mika Westerlund, and Tommi Lampikoski. "Environmental sustainability in industrial
manufacturing: re-examining the greening of Interface's business model." Journal of Cleaner Production 115
(2016): 52-61.

12ENVIRONMNETAL SUSTAINABILITY
recycled is essential for the construction company to reduce embodied energy15 This strategy will
enable Polunt construction to gain environmental sustainability. Polunt construction should
provide preferences to the materials, which are produced by using renewable energy sources.
Social sustainability can be achieved through the proper market research. However, a
proper market research will enable the construction organization to understand the current choice
of the people and it is important for any construction business to develop a building design that is
healthy and comfortable for the human being16. As for example, construction of the building with
fiber cement is an effective strategy to enhance the longevity of the building. On the other hand,
timber wall is healthy for the people that are used in the building construction. Hence, using
natural materials in the building design will give a healthy home to the customer of Polunt
construction by achieving social sustainability.
Application of comprehensive assessment for built environmental efficiency or CASBEE
is effective for the construction industry to make a comparison between the ordinary building
and the sustainable building17. However, this approach will enable the Polunt construction to
understand the importance of environmental sustainability during their business. This strategy
15 Murtagh, Niamh, Aeli Roberts, and Richard Hind. "The role of environmental sustainability in the marketing of
small architectural design practices." Construction Management and Economics 34, no. 4-5 (2016): 258-271.
16 Malhotra, Arvind, Nigel P. Melville, and Richard T. Watson. "Spurring impactful research on information systems
for environmental sustainability." MIS Quarterly 37, no. 4 (2013): 1265-1274.
17 Escrig‐Olmedo, Elena, María Jesús Muñoz‐Torres, María Ángeles Fernández‐Izquierdo, and Juana María Rivera‐
Lirio. "Measuring corporate environmental performance: A methodology for sustainable development." Business
Strategy and the Environment 26, no. 2 (2017): 142-162.