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Innovation and decarbonization go hand in hand, they are closely interconnected and mutually reinforcing in the context of addressing climate change and sustainability. As we progress on our journey to decarbonization, Multiplex Construction actively embraces innovation to uncover new ways to deliver our projects and influence emission reduction within our supply chain globally. Digital tools, such as BIM modeling, EC3 - Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator, PowerBi dashboards and Procore have been instrumental in enabling and supporting our decarbonization efforts.
At Multiplex Construction Canada, we officially started our Decarbonization journey in 2019 when we committed to setting an emissions reduction target in line with Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) — the first construction company in North America to do so. We committed to achieve a 63% reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, compared to the 2020 baseline. Not an easy feat. The commitment is absolute and as the company is growing and taking on more projects at a time, the goal is increasingly challenging.
But how do we get there? The practice of setting ambitious goals is admirable, but without a roadmap for short term action there is no meat on the bone. That’s why we developed a Decarbonization Roadmap which outlines the necessary steps we need to take this decade to be on the path to reach our Science Based Target and our objective of achieving net zero carbon for our supply chain by 2050 or earlier.
To create our Decarbonization Roadmap, we consulted and relied on input from all departments and teams within our organization. We presented the plan to subject matter experts in the industry and gathered their valuable feedback. After assessing the full life cycle of our projects, we narrowed down on the areas that we have influence and/or control over to make sure we are most impactful in our approach. We formulated our targets to be realistic and achievable.
Our Decarbonization Roadmap was launched in September 2023 and is built on five action area goals:
We applied the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to frame our decarbonization action areas. The SDGs serve as a global blueprint for sustainable living on our planet. We assessed the alignments between the SDGs and our decarbonization goals, identifying the SDGs that we can advance and support with our decarbonization efforts.
To move forward, our supply chain needs to buy in and be on board with our decarbonization journey. We are committed to engaging, raising awareness, and empowering collaboration to address climate change collectively. Below are highlights of our progress so far.
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The first step to all decarbonization efforts is to build awareness and bring forward existing market solutions. That is exactly what we did last September when we collaborated with Cooper Equipment to host Electric and Low Carbon Equipment Expos on our sites. These expos featured suppliers showcasing the latest innovations in battery-powered and reduced-carbon construction equipment. Multiplex staff and trade partners were invited to experience and familiarize themselves with these innovations firsthand.
This fall, in collaboration with 4Refuel and Cooper Equipment, we piloted B20 biodiesel at our McMaster Innovation Park OmniaBio B site. Alternative fuels are key in the transition to zero emission. B20 biodiesel fuel offers a CO2 emissions reduction (wheel to well) of 15% when compared to traditional diesel. This is just the starting point and with increased availability of renewable diesel and other innovative fuel alternatives we will continue to build the relationships and strategy to incorporate increasingly impactful solutions on our projects.
Multiplex embraces a Model First Approach to constructing our projects which enables us to build with precision, on schedule, on budget and on carbon.
Multiplex embraces a Model First Approach to constructing our projects which enables us to build with precision, on schedule, on budget and on carbon.
In 2022, Multiplex partnered with Building Transparency to actively support the development of the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool. We leverage the innovative EC3 cloud-based platform to assess and measure the embodied carbon and reduction potential in all our projects and pursuits. We share the assessment and results with our clients, inspiring conversations about embodied carbon reduction and empowering them to make impactful decisions on building design and material selection.
We drive industry awareness by organizing and hosting hybrid (online and in-person) Expert Events, engaging both our staff and external supply chain partners. Regarding embodied carbon, we hosted prominent organizations including Building Transparency to discuss their open-source Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool and Vertima to discuss the process of developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
“You can’t manage what you can’t measure” is a famous quote that is often used in the context of data and in our case — carbon accounting. We have been tracking our carbon emissions since 2020 in line with our Science Based Target. The amount of data that is collected during this process can be overwhelming, PowerBi Dashboards have been an invaluable digital tool to streamline the tracking process. The dashboards enable us to analyze extensive amounts of data, presenting it in simplified visual diagrams that illustrate our progress effectively. We further integrate our electronic document management system —Procore — to collect data from construction sites and project partners, creating a comprehensive and efficient approach to carbon accounting.
Our PowerBi Dashboards extend beyond carbon tracking to include waste monitoring. By implementing a robust waste tracking system, we gain valuable insights into material usage, disposal patterns and overall environmental impact. This data empowers us to make informed decisions and identify opportunities for waste reduction and resource optimization.
The synergy between innovation and decarbonization is critical in addressing climate change and achieving a sustainable future. Leveraging our decarbonization roadmap as a guide, we are committed to an ongoing process of learning, piloting, and putting into action innovative solutions, all in close cooperation with our industry partners. This collaborative journey is aimed at advancing us steadily toward the goal of net-zero carbon emissions within our supply chain.
