We consider this performance as the total respect for our licence to operate and to conduct our activity.

Presently, and as a result of partnerships with waste management specialized operators, great part of construction and demolition waste is recycled or reused in our own or other entities’ works, significantly contributing to minimize the impacts of our activity.

Local Impacts

The building sector in Europe produces 40% of the total waste, 40% of natural resources are used in construction and 40% of energy is consumed during construction and operation of buildings.

The building sector has therefore great responsibility for the minimization of these impacts, and Edifer, being a great reference in the sector, has been a pioneer in the adoption of good practice policies in Portugal.

Each building, site and works has an Environment Management Plan (whether or not required by the Client), including an environmental impact assessment of all activities to be carried out, which allows the planning of work in view of eliminating or minimizing the impact on the works’ surroundings and local population in terms of noise, vibration, dust and particles, leakages, etc.

The companies working with Edifer are assessed by their environmental behaviour which is considered on their selection.

Demolition and Building Waste

Estimates reveal that 40% to 50% of waste is produced in the building sector, representing in Portugal 4 to 8 million tons produced each year. Portugal shows a recycling rate of 5% to 10%, far away from the best recycling rates of the North European countries which reach around 80%.

Very recently, a legal document was published to rule the building and demolition waste management and to help solving one of the main problems and impacts in our country.

In this domain, Edifer has adopted a proactive attitude towards the implementation, on its works, equipment sites and buildings, systems of waste separation on the different production sites, to be transported to valorisation or recovery licensed entities.

In 2007, around 10,000 tons of waste were separated and sent to valorisation, in the scope of partnerships meanwhile established with specialized operators.


Edifer thus reaches one of its sustainability objectives, minimizing the major environmental impact of its activity.

Energy

Edifer is a leader in the Portuguese building market, to which high levels of energy consumption are associated, practically 40% of the total energy consumed.

The consequences of high consumptions are nowadays more known, as the impact on climate changes which have, in the worst cases, deteriorated the living conditions in several planet regions.

Material

40% of natural resources are extracted for application in the building sector.

As with the energetic performance, selection of material and building solutions is defined in project by the Client, and Edifer gives advice whenever improvement in this domain may be achieved.

Wherever it is technically possible, Edifer provides for the reuse of aggregate waste material in works.

For this purpose, a Waste Stock has been formed for the management of surpluses and needs, so as to guarantee internal recycling.  

In 2007, the company registered successful cases in terms of environmental and economic results.    

As far as procurement is concerned, environmental criteria is used in the choice of material and products, and a program is in course for replacing used products by equivalents with reduced environmental impact