Today, June 5, is World Environment Day, a date established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to raise awareness among the world’s population of the importance of protecting and preserving the environment.
World Environment Day is an opportunity for the real estate industry, including the real estate sector, to become aware of its environmental impact and promote more sustainable practices.
What can the Real Estate sector do to improve the environment?
The real estate sector can play a key role in improving the environment through various actions:
- Building with sustainable bio-based materials: bio-based materials have a lower environmental impact in their production, are renewable and can contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions compared to traditional materials.
- Energy self-sufficient buildings: this involves the use of advanced technologies, such as solar panels, energy storage systems and intelligent management systems, to generate and manage all the energy needed to operate the building.
- Regenerative urbanism: Rather than simply developing new real estate projects, Real Estate can adopt regenerative urbanism approaches.
This involves the regeneration of existing urban areas, revitalizing abandoned or underutilized spaces and creating sustainable and healthy environments that promote social integration, biodiversity and climate resilience. - Net-zero energy buildings: Rather than simply reducing the energy consumption of buildings, the goal is to develop net-zero energy buildings.
These buildings generate the same amount of renewable energy as they consume, achieving energy balance and reducing dependence on non-renewable sources.
This can be achieved through a combination of renewable technologies, energy storage systems and efficient energy management practices. - Integrating nature into urban design: Instead of seeing nature as something separate from urban life, real estate can integrate it directly into urban design.
This involves incorporating green spaces, vertical gardens, green roofs and vegetation areas in real estate projects.
In addition to providing environmental benefits, such as improving air quality and reducing the heat island effect, it also provides pleasant and healthy spaces for residents and the community.
World Environment Day 2023
A call to eliminate our plastic footprint
This year the focus of World Environment Day is on eliminating the use of plastics, a serious environmental problem that requires immediate attention.
According to UN data, about 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year, a material that can take up to 1,000 years to degrade.
Many of these plastics end up in our oceans, affecting marine life and altering entire ecosystems.
The role of plastics in the real estate industry
The real estate industry plays a significant role in the plastic issue due to its extensive use in building construction and management.
The most important aspects of plastic use in the real estate industry include:
- Building materials: Plastic is used in a variety of building materials, such as PVC pipes, wall coverings, insulation boards and window systems.
These materials can have a negative impact on the environment due to their production, use and disposal. - Construction waste: Building construction and demolition generate a large amount of plastic waste, such as packaging, wrapping and discarded materials.
This waste often ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. - Excessive use of plastic in interiors: In interior design, plastic is widely used in furniture, floor coverings, decoration and accessories.
These items may contain single-use plastics and contribute to the accumulation of plastic waste. - Packaging and logistics: The real estate industry also contributes to the plastic problem through the packaging used to transport building materials and furniture.
Plastic packaging, such as shrink film and bags, is often used in large quantities and may not be recyclable.
What steps can the real estate industry take to address this problem?
It is essential for the construction industry to look for sustainable solutions in order to reduce the use of plastic:
- Promote the use of alternative building materials to plastic, such as wood, steel, concrete and other sustainable materials.
- Adopt sustainable construction practices that reduce dependence on plastic materials and promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies.
- Prioritize the use of recycled and recyclable products and materials in building furnishings and decoration.
- Encourage the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition waste, including plastic, instead of sending it directly to landfills.
- Work in collaboration with suppliers and contractors to reduce plastic packaging used in the transportation of materials and equipment.
- Educate and raise awareness among industry professionals about the negative impacts of plastic and promote more sustainable practices at all stages of building construction and management.
- Encourage the obtainment of certifications and adherence to sustainable construction standardssuch as LEED or other recognized environmental assessment systems.
These certifications promote the reduction of plastic use and the adoption of more sustainable practices in building construction.
By addressing the problem of plastic in the real estate industry, we can contribute to the reduction of pollution, the conservation of natural resources and the promotion of more sustainable practices in the sector.
