John Wallace
Managing Director, Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd
Astute companies in the engineering sector are integrating sustainable solutions into every facet of their operations and learning best practices by collaborating with their peers.
Engineering may not be synonymous with sustainability, but many large firms have long focused on emissions reduction and efficiency while smaller companies are now leveraging resources to begin their sustainability efforts.
For example, Sorensen Civil Engineering, a construction company established in 1977, has been involved in building everything from wastewater treatment plants and flood relief schemes to fishing harbour developments and transport infrastructure. It started to transform its sustainability approach after a decade of substantial growth.
Putting sustainability at the heart of decision-making
“In the last 18 months, we’ve grown from 80 employees to around 180,” says John Wallace, Managing Director. “This allows us to align with other major players in the industry and embed sustainable practices across our operations.” Initiatives include reducing company carbon emissions with plant machinery that runs on HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) and prioritising environmental stewardship.
Greater emphasis on sustainability isn’t just good for the planet. It also helps attract and retain the best industry personnel. “When a firm experiences significant growth, it needs to ensure it has enough people — and the right people. Potential employees want to work for firms that have a good culture. They also want to know where a company is on its sustainability journey.”
Smaller companies are now
leveraging resources to begin
their sustainability efforts.
It can be a challenge for smaller firms to know where to start in the sustainability realm. “The first thing we did was become a member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School. This is an online knowledge and resource platform featuring webinars and e-learning tools, where clients, contractors and suppliers work together to share best practices. It’s helped our employees and managers put sustainability at the heart of decision-making.”
Learning from more established sustainability players
Nevertheless, John admits that his firm still has much to learn when it comes to sustainability, although a new development has opened up an exciting opportunity on this front. Recently, it was announced that a joint venture of Irish construction giant John Sisk & Son and Sorensen Civil Engineering had been selected as the main contractor for the €150 million Adare Bypass in County Limerick.
“This is a significant contract involving the construction of a bypass to divert traffic away from Adare ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. It’s also a massive learning opportunity because Sisk is a leading player in the sustainability market. By learning from their expertise, we’ll be able to make our own operations more sustainable.”
