Summertown Interiors, the UAE’s leading sustainable fit out contractor, has recorded positive environmental, economic, and social results in its 2020 Sustainability Report, putting it on track to achieve its ambitious JOURNEY2030 goals.
The sustainability report is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the international standards organization that helps businesses and governments to understand and communicate their impact on climate change. The company’s fifth report details their sustainability impact and performance against eight material issues that matter most to Summertown’s business and stakeholders. These are economic performance; environmental impact; people; health, safety and environment; responsible procurement; community; technology; transparency and anti-corruption.
To help achieve one of the company’s ‘JOURNEY2030’ sustainability goals of zero waste to landfill, Summertown set up new measurement systems to record tonnage of project site waste – following a re-use, recover, recycle and landfill method. Significantly, the company diverted over 80% of waste from landfill on two of its project sites in the past year. Summertown also decreased its own office’s total energy consumption, recording 129,200kWh for 2019-20,whichrepresents2,189kWh of energy usage per person, or a 4% decrease in total.
Positive economic performance was another key achievement this year, with Summertown’s turnover for 2019-20 increasing by 26% compared to the previous financial year. Repeat business accounted for 19% of this growth, and its commitment to providing clients with sustainable workplace solutions.
The company also successfully delivered four projects that met Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED)certification, demonstrating their commitment towards ensuring 100% of completed projects satisfy externally accredited sustainability standards by 2030. Responsible procurement continued to be a priority for the company’s sustainability strategy with it again exceeding its target in 2019-20, with 44% of materials for client’s projects coming from sustainable sources.
Being part of the community and giving back is another key priority encompassed in the company’s sustainability strategy. In 2019-20, 80% of Summertown employees participated in atleast one volunteering activity, which is a 27% increase on the previous year. The average time spent volunteering per person was 8.4 hours and included activities like the Al Marmoom Initiative (children with special needs), Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, and the Dubai Cares Walk for Education.
Summertown also continued its focus on its employee’s happiness and wellbeing through its health and wellbeing programme, and in alignment to the UAE government’s happiness agenda. Delivering 11 health and wellbeing initiatives in 2019-20, including weekly yoga, a 10-week wellness challenge, wellbeing workshops on mindful parenting and overcoming negative thinking and stress management.
Marcos Bish, Managing Director of Summertown Interiors said: “Our team is passionate about sustainability, and we are extremely proud of the achievements and progress we’ve made as we strive to embed sustainability into every aspect of our business. Looking ahead, the main challenge for us will be the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to navigate this unprecedented, challenging environment. However, we are confident in our people and ability to continue to deliver quality sustainable workplace place solutions for our clients, and reach our JOURNEY2030 sustainability goals.”
The company’s sustainability strategy is aligned to the global United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and regional sustainable ambitions – UAE Vision 2021, UAE Green Agenda 2030 and the National Programme for Happiness and Positivity.
The new 2020 Sustainability Report can be downloaded from Summertown’s website here: www.summertown.ae/sustainability/