Building a sustainable future
By Rebecca Ting, Property Integrations Project Manager, Bupa Asia Pacific.
As a project manager, watching the daily progress of a project and how it transforms to completion is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. What I love about working in property is that we are building something that will benefit the people who will eventually inhabit that space. At the end of a project, it is nice to be able to step back and say, “hey, I was part of that.”
However, in my line of work you soon come to realise that the effects of construction on the environment is immense, with the industry generating an alarming amount of waste. Research shows that over 30% of all waste is a result of building, renovation and demolition activities.
Healthcare’s impact
The impact of construction on the environment really hits close to home, especially for someone who is involved in fit-out projects and works in the healthcare sector, one of the most property-intensive industries in the world over 165,000 hospitals alone. Add that to the countless GP practices, dental and other allied health clinics - our footprint is enormous.
With every passing day, we become increasingly aware of the world's environmental challenges. So I was pleased to learn that so many people within Bupa share my passion regardless of their role. Particularly my eco-Disruptive team who have come together to find a start-up to work alongside to create bold sustainable solutions. In short, we wanted to find people to help us enable Healthy Bupa Buildings!
With every passing day, we become increasingly aware of the world's environmental challenges. So I was pleased to learn that so many people within Bupa share my passion regardless of their role. Particularly my eco-Disruptive team who have come together to find a start-up to work alongside to create bold sustainable solutions. In short, we wanted to find people to help us enable Healthy Bupa Buildings!
Building sustainable healthcare
XFrame are an Australian-based start-up with a revolutionary solution for minimising building waste. Their brainchild? A modular framing system that's not just easy on the environment but also a game-changer in construction and commercial fit-outs.
The magic of XFrame lies in its simplicity. Their modular system, constructed from natural, renewable materials, is locally manufactured using sustainably sourced structural plywood. These structural parts effortlessly clip together, eliminating the need for nails, screws, or adhesives. What's more, they can be easily disassembled, reconfigured, and reused, significantly reducing waste in a building's lifecycle.
Big projects and big dreams
So, what do we hope to achieve with XFrame? We hope that there is an opportunity for XFrame to collaborate with Bupa beyond the Eco-Disruptive Programme, finding applications in some of the healthcare spaces we operate.
But more than that, our mission right now is to shine a spotlight on XFrame and sustainable building practices. We want to spread the word that a "Healthy Building" can indeed be synonymous with environmentally responsible construction.
A Change in Perspective
One of my squad members, Nathan McLeod, eloquently captures the transformation:
"Eco-Disruptive has made me realise that there are amazing companies out there making very real impacts on climate and the environment. We just need to be aware of them!"
The programme has indeed opened our eyes to the myriad of possibilities in the realm of sustainability as well as bringing us closer to incredible companies like XFrame, who are making significant strides in sustainably managing waste and reusing materials.
While some environmental challenges cannot be resolved overnight, there is plenty of innovation taking place towards creating not just a healthier building, but a healthier planet for our people. And that is a project worth stepping back and genuinely saying “hey I was part of that.”
