Sustainable inside & out

Sustainability starts from the ground up, which is why SIG is proud to be part of the drive to create the world’s most sustainable buildings

Sustainability has become the buzzword of our time, making it a priority for companies both large and small. In fact, everyone from consumers to employees are now looking to businesses to help solve key issues like climate change. But being a sustainable business means more than making green claims. It’s considering your entire way of working, from products and processes to people. In this environmentally-conscious era, it’s no surprise that the buildings we live and work in are becoming more sustainable than ever. It’s not enough that today’s architecture is big, bold and beautiful – it needs to be clean, green and hyper efficient. All over the world, we’re now seeing smart and striking buildings being developed with sustainability top of the agenda.

Building higher efficiency

Take Manchester’s One Angel Square in the UK. Housing 3,000 employees, the headquarters of the Co-operative Group has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). The building is powered by a pure plant oil-fed heat and power system and uses grape seed oil grown on the company’s own farm. Over in China, the 75,000 sq meter Sun-Moon Mansion in Dezhou is one of the world’s largest solar-powered structures. Resembling a huge sun dial, this office, hotel and conference complex is powered by solar energy from panels orientated to track the sun’s movement and maximize energy collection. All of which helps the building save around 8.6 tons in emissions. In the heart of Seattle, meanwhile, the Bullitt Centre stand outs even amongst the world’s greenest buildings – this self-sustaining office building produces more electricity from its rooftop solar canopy than it consumes. It also features a 56,000-gallon rainwater cistern, composting toilets, and even offices dedicated to researching new techniques for clean energy.

Scoring high for sustainability

At SIG, we understand the importance of being sustainable inside and out. That’s why our new Asia-Pacific Tech Centre in Suzhou, China has been built to the highest efficiency standards. This state-of-the-art building is certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system and has been awarded the highest possible Platinum standard. SIG is only the ninth industrial company with onsite manufacturing in China to earn the LEED Platinum standard with a total of 83 points – the second highest score in the entire country. A significant number of points was earned by the building’s solar power generation, with rooftop solar panels providing more than 13% of the complex’s entire energy needs. Other key features include low-flow sanitary fixtures, wastewater reuse and rain water collection, which help reduce water consumption by 40%. In addition, more than 20% of the building’s materials are made from recycled content, and over 20% of the site’s open spaces are green to support biodiversity and employee well-being. The new Asia-Pacific Tech Centre joins other sustainable SIG projects like the innovative Eco-canteen in Rayong, Thailand. Made almost entirely from used SIG beverage cartons – more than 1.4 million – the local school building showcases how companies and communities can come together to turn waste into value. Building projects like these are a testament to the commitment outlined in our WAY BEYOND GOOD ambition – a drive to contribute more to society and the environment than we take out – and places us in good company amongst the world’s greenest businesses. Want to know more about our sustainable operations? Contact us now or read more about our WAY BEYOND GOOD. And to ensure you stay ahead of the big issues shaping your business, subscribe to the SIGnals Update for a rundown of our latest news and stories.