20 January 2022
Dear IGS Corporate Member,
LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
The circular economy, sustainable infrastructure and responsible business are more important than ever. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), changing investor requirements and consumer expectations are driving change in companies’ and individuals’ activities and behavior.
Geosynthetics are well positioned for this change. They provide benefits that are not only economic, but sustainable in all key regards: energy savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, durability and total lifespan analysis. They also deliver sustainable outcomes for communities through water preservation, prevention of coastal erosion, avoidance of pollution and more resilient infrastructure.
While geosynthetics deliver sustainable outcomes, our industry also has a responsibility to operate its businesses in a sustainable fashion.
A key step towards sustainable operations is the creation of suitable policies and goals on sustainability and environmental practices. Unsurprisingly, the results of our sustainability survey indicate that we have room for improvement in this area. This is not uncommon - most industry sectors could do better, but our sector can show leadership.
For this reason, IGS has published its own Sustainability Statement. We urge you to read it and to consider what this means for you as members. We hope it will help you to review your organization’s commitment to sustainability, and the actions which follow. The full range of sustainability resources provided by the IGS is available on our website. Recent case studies from IGS Corporate Members, showcasing increased use of recycled materials, green energy in geosynthetics manufacture, and responsible end-of-life disposal may be of particular interest.
The annex to this letter includes examples of non-IGS resources. Please also let us know what more we can do to support you in helping to make the geosynthetics industry be a sustainability leader.
Yours sincerely,
