Logistics buildings today represent one of the key cogs in the Supply Chain. Consequently, they are no exception to the rule: registered in their time, they carry with them the major issues of our time. In the same way as residential buildings, they must therefore be greener, more durable and more responsible. Here, in detail, is why their greening is necessary.
Transform constraints into opportunities
As mentioned above, buildings constructed to support the Supply Chain are confronted, like others, with contextual elements. Here, these form a set of constraints:
- regulatory constraints;
- societal constraints;
- financial constraints;
- and environmental constraints.
However, these constraints can also be considered as factors generating developments in the design of real estate projects, and thus appear as opportunities to innovate in terms of greening buildings in general.
Regulatory constraints
Firstly, this need for greening buildings meets a regulatory requirement. Through its climate strategy, Bouygues Construction has in fact committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 % by 2030, in order to participate in the decarbonization of construction activities.
On the other hand, the tertiary aspect of the ELAN law for the evolution of housing, development and digital technology encourages tertiary sector players to demonstrate energy sobriety, by putting actions in place to achieve a 40 % reduction in final energy consumption for the entire tertiary park by 2030. Since many of our clients are concerned by this objective, it is our responsibility to take into account the requirements imposed on them from the design of the works.
Finally, we must also highlight the expectations of these industrial customers in terms of expertise. As the greening of the Supply Chain is an integral part of their development strategy, they are counting on us, as contributors to their projects, to bring our skills and our thinking in the field of sustainable development and low-carbon construction.
Thus, several avenues have already been explored alongside them. This includes the choice of materials with a low carbon footprint such as wood or recycled products, the working of materials extracted during earthworks, or even the use of renewable energies.
Societal constraints
If Supply Chain buildings have an industrial vocation, they are also places intended to accommodate employees, and they are sometimes located near residential areas. Little by little, manufacturers are understanding the benefit of providing their employees with more responsible infrastructure, and of offering elected officials and local residents projects that are as respectful of the planet as they are of their environment.
A parameter that we integrate into the design phase by proposing sustainable options for buildings, but also for land, in order to find the most acceptable solutions with regard to fauna and flora. Soft modes of travel accessible to employees, green spaces and surrounding plantations… We do everything we can to ensure that so-called “industrial” projects are accepted by as many people as possible.
Finally, the societal constraints to which we are subject also find a response in the purchasing process. As part of a more responsible purchasing strategy, we favor local suppliers, in order not only to make the local economy work, but also to reduce the carbon footprint of our sites.
Financial constraints
Whether our clients come from the industrial or financial sector, the construction of logistics buildings represents a significant investment for them, which needs to be profitable. As such, they require that the structures be both sustainable and in keeping with the times, with greening being an integral part of their analysis criteria.
The more a building is integrated into a green environment, the more it is appreciated by the client, and for good reason: more virtuous projects are generally easier to rent than standard constructions. Mentalities are changing and as a result, we must be proactive in this area.
Environmental constraints
The fact that these logistics buildings are dedicated to the Supply Chain changes nothing: from now on, our buildings must be more virtuous in terms of energy saving and utility management. At the same time, manufacturers are also changing their thinking, and requiring us to think about operation from the design stage. Although it represents a significant change, this development enriches our way of designing projects, leading us, for example, to integrate the use of renewable energies.
To ensure the sustainability of buildings, we also produce studies allowing them to be projected over time. These studies offer customers an overview of their future site after 30 or 60 years of operation – the number of years depending on the customer – and allow them to ensure the profitability of their investment.
Greening logistics buildings: some thoughts
As we will have understood, the greening of Supply Chain buildings is more relevant than ever. For this reason, certain subjects seem structuring in the posture that we wish to adopt. In the future, it is important for us to:
- continue to adapt the “carbon approach”, which we wish to make a reflex internally, to Supply Chain projects;
- develop and validate a “low carbon” benchmark that is recognized by the profession;
- work with suppliers and service providers to identify the greenest possible construction solutions;
- continue our R&D efforts in these areas in order to support growing demand.
While there is still much to do, it seems important to us to emphasize how interesting and rewarding thinking around these subjects is: it pushes us to innovate on a daily basis, and allows us to continually improve the way we approach projects.
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