Our recent Sustainable Futures report confirmed that sustainability is now a non-negotiable factor in specification decisions. 70% of UK construction projects now have defined sustainability targets, and 64% of industry professionals have been involved in net-zero projects, a significant rise from 49% in 2022.
Manufacturers who recognise the importance of sustainability and support specifiers in making greener, healthier choices help shape the future of building design.
Timber door manufacturer JELD-WEN is setting a leading example, prioritising sustainability in every area of its business. NBS spoke to Operations Director, Hamish White, to learn more about how manufacturers can open the door to a more sustainable built environment...
For developers and contractors striving to meet ESG and net-zero goals, sustainability is no longer an aspiration – it’s an expectation. Achieving these goals means looking beyond just designing low-carbon buildings and instead assessing the entire supply chain to choose manufacturers who embed serious sustainability into their day-to-day operations.
Manufacturers who supply doorsets, windows, flooring, and other essential elements of a building help shape the building’s environmental impact long before breaking ground. This is particularly true in the relationship between tier 1 contractors and specialist tier 2 manufacturers and suppliers, where close collaboration is how true sustainability can be achieved.
JELD-WEN is an example of a supplier that has embedded sustainability into its everyday operations, with its Penrith site on track to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2026. But that’s only the beginning...
Beyond compliance
Though regulatory pressure is helping drive sustainability across the sector, compliance alone is not enough to achieve net-zero ambitions. In fact, 37% of those surveyed in the NBS Sustainable Futures report stated that a lack of clear Government policy was a key reason for avoiding sustainable practices.
As we wait for compliance to catch up, it is collaboration between specifiers, contractors, and manufacturers that is truly key. Each party in the chain must be proactive about reducing emissions at every production stage.
Manufacturers are now looking beyond just meeting minimum regulatory standards. Instead, they are actively redesigning their processes to cut emissions, reduce waste, and improve circularity. This means the emphasis is shifting towards creating products that meet performance requirements and contribute to a lower carbon footprint for the buildings they form part of.
For tier 1 contractors and specifiers, sustainability must be built into procurement decisions. This can be a challenge, especially in projects with intense cost pressures. Failing to engage with sustainability-minded tier 2 suppliers risks undermining the ESG goals that developers are working towards.
Practical steps for sustainable manufacturing
JELD-WEN demonstrates how manufacturers can make a tangible difference by embedding sustainability into their processes, from material sourcing to energy consumption. Effective strategies include investing in renewable energy, reducing reliance on equipment powered by fossil fuels, and improving waste management to improve circularity.
Operations Director Hamish White explained some of the key ways in which the business has transformed its approach:
“At JELD-WEN’s Penrith site, we’ve focused on improving energy efficiency by replacing fixed-speed compressors with variable-speed alternatives and installing LED lighting with motion sensors.
“We’ve also transitioned our forklift fleet to electric, reducing our Scope 1 emissions significantly, with further reductions planned through additional electrification.
“We’ve moved to 100% renewable energy to power operations and have even introduced AI-driven safety systems that protect workers from moving vehicles and hazards, which allows us to upgrade existing machinery safely rather than unnecessarily upgrading it.
“We’ve also achieved zero waste being sent to landfill by using waste separation and recycling improvements that ensure materials such as plastic wrapping are processed correctly.
“Our initiatives also include the use of biomass boilers, powered by wood-chip waste from timber, which is sustainably sourced and certified to PEFC or FSC standards. By ensuring all timber is certified sustainable, we guarantee the biomass remains truly renewable, as uncertified wood use risks releasing stored CO2 without the carbon recapture achieved through replanting. This aligns with our 2050 ESG goals of providing renewable energy while ensuring that by-products are repurposed rather than discarded.”
We’re proud of our sustainability efforts, but we also know we’re not alone in initiating them. JELD-WEN is one of many manufacturers striving to enable sustainable building design - long before those buildings even exist.
Sustainability as the standard
Now that the conversation around sustainability has evolved from ‘why?’ to ‘how?’, the industry must move beyond token gestures and adopt meaningful change. This shift demands a mindset change that views sustainability as standard practice rather than an optional extra.
Building stronger relationships between tier 1 contractors and tier 2 manufacturers will help the industry embed sustainability throughout the supply chain. Specifiers who prioritise working with sustainability-minded manufacturers will find themselves ahead of the curve.
“The future of construction lies in sustainable building design. It will only be achieved if we all join forces to build it that way.”
Open the doorway to sustainable specification by choosing JELD-WEN for all doorset requirements in your next project. Find the full range and specify it with ease via NBS Source.
