Sustainable Carpenter Programme

Kristy Jones is our Sustainability Manager here at Cook Brothers Construction. In 2024, she won the Innovation Award at the NZ Building People Awards for her work establishing our Sustainable Carpenter Programme.

With construction responsible for almost 40% of all waste sent to landfill - diverting waste is one of the construction industry's biggest challenges. We are aware of the issue and are responsible for finding a solution. Our Sustainability Manager, Kristy Jones, is leading the charge for change. Her dedication to the environment is exemplified by her leadership of our innovative Sustainable Carpenter Programme at Cook Brothers Construction.

Our Sustainable Carpenter Programme is committed to addressing construction waste challenges and fostering social improvement in our communities. The programme focuses on reusing, repairing, and repurposing construction waste to create valuable items that meet the community's needs. Currently, the programme has two dedicated sustainable carpenters and plans to expand to all regions. The program is free for community groups and offers a way to divert and repurpose construction waste, reflecting Cook Brothers' core values and vision for the construction industry.

In 2023, the Sustainable Carpenters diverted nearly 20 tons of construction materials from landfills through reuse, repair, and repurposing. Plans for continued expansion in 2024 are currently underway.

The programme also collaborates with local groups and leverages our team's skills to repurpose waste into items that benefit various community groups, including schools, play centres, councils, and non-profits. Over 50 community groups have benefited from the programme last year.

By demonstrating that one person's trash is another's treasure, we aim to reshape perceptions around waste and emphasize its value as a resource. This educational initiative is crucial for influencing wider societal and industry practices towards sustainability, equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and ability to give waste a second life through reuse, repair, and repurpose.

We recently ran a hands-on workshop at Templeton Primary School where students built toolboxes and birdhouses out of reclaimed materials, learning how easy it is to reuse materials while learning basic carpentry skills, including using tools.

As a Sustainability Manager, Kristy’s ability to push the boundaries of traditional thinking distinguishes her from her peers. By advocating for creative solutions to construction waste, she has demonstrated how innovative thinking can address both environmental and community needs effectively.

Kristy embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration, referees commended her for her exemplary ‘co-opetition’ approach, noting her success in running joint sustainability events with industry competitors and advancing collective environmental goals.

Kristy's long-term goal is to create an industry-wide change whereby sustainability is a centralised system that provides accessible resources such as skills, training, and materials for all. Through the commitment of individuals such as Kristy, we may just see a future whereby the construction industry truly integrates the principles of repair, reuse, and repurposing into our everyday lives.