University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

THE NEED FOR A PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
SCHEME TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE UK
PRECAST CONCRETE INDUSTRY.
Aliyu, A.A.* [1], Glass, J. [2], Clarke, M.A. [3], Elhag, H.K. [4], Price, A.D.F. [5]
[1] Research Engineer, British Precast Concrete Federation/ Department of Civil and
Building Engineering,
Loughborough University, UK.
[2] Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Sustainable Construction, Department of
Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
[3] Chief Executive, British Precast Concrete Federation, Leicester, UK.
[4] Product Association Manager, British Precast Concrete Federation, Leicester, UK.
[5] Professor, Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough
University, UK.
Abstract
The UK precast concrete industry is widely seen as one of the major players towards the delivery
and achievement of the targets of sustainable construction. To improve its sustainability
credentials, the precast concrete industry is committed to a more sustainable precast sector
through a continuous measurement of performance and improvements across the sector. These
have led to the development of a set of sustainability policies base on key issues facing the
industry.
Product stewardship schemes help all stakeholders within businesses, companies, organisations
and multinational corporations to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with their
products throughout the entire life cycle of the product from ‘cradle to cradle’ by taking
responsibility to address such impacts.
This is a visioning paper for the UK precast concrete industry on how to improve sustainability
through product stewardship. The paper introduces the concept of product stewardship, highlights
the significance of developing a product stewardship scheme for the industry, explores its
benefits and explains why product stewardship should serve as the next step forward for the
industry to take voluntarily. The paper will identify useful lessons for the sectors which are
intending to develop or deliver a product stewardship scheme.
Keywords: sustainable development; sustainability; sustainable construction; concrete and
precast concrete industry; product stewardship
Abdullahi Adamu Aliyu is principal researcher on joint collaborative research project to
improve sustainability through product stewardship in the UK precast concrete industry. He has
previously worked in the construction industry and the Liveable cities design and consultancy
group, UK.
Dr. Jacqueline Glass joined the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough
University in 2003. Her teaching and research interests include architectural design, decision
making, process management, sustainability and concrete construction.
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