University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

performance being awarded. Currently, the British Standards Institution (BSI, 2009)
is also developing BS8902, a draft standard on Responsible sourcing sector
certification schemes. Notwithstanding these developments, a certified and fullyfledged
Product Stewardship scheme for the UK precast concrete industry could help
in the overall improvement of the environmental, social and economic performance
of all precast concrete products not just from responsible sourcing of precast concrete
products but throughout the entire products lifecycle, i.e. from cradle to cradle.
Conclusion
The UK precast concrete sectors’ sustainability credentials could be improved
through a voluntary, but thorough and in-depth improvement of environmental,
social and economic issues affecting the industry. These key issues can be bridged by
a dedicated Product Stewardship scheme for the UK precast concrete industry which
will be all encompassing in the reduction of environmental and social impacts at all
the key stages involved in a precast concrete product’s life cycle. A Product
Stewardship scheme will provide a framework to help the UK precast concrete
industry identify and mitigate the environmental and social impacts of its products
throughout their life-cycle. The scheme should help in enhancing the environmental
credentials and performance of precast products through impact reduction. It will
pave the way towards a successful delivery of sustainable construction and, by
extension, help create a more sustainable built-environment in the UK and globally.
The benefits of a precast PS scheme may not only be continued and sustained growth,
sustainable environments and social wellbeing, but it could also produce an efficient
and effective index to measure and improve the entire performance of the concrete
and precast concrete sector globally.
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