The Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Hoarding Practices

Construction sites might be temporary, but their environmental impact can last much longer. One of the biggest culprits is hoarding – the solid fencing that surrounds building sites to keep them secure and shield the public from what’s going on inside.

Traditional hoarding is often made from timber or plastic and is usually thrown away after the project ends. That waste adds up quickly. It’s also costly, both financially and environmentally. That’s where sustainable hoarding comes in.

Rethinking Hoarding with Sustainability in Mind

Sustainable hoarding isn’t just about swapping one material for another. It’s a different way of thinking altogether.

Instead of building something that’s designed to be used once and skipped, the idea is to create hoarding systems that last, can be reused, and are made from materials that won’t end up in landfill.

GoHoard sustainable hoarding panels are built with this in mind. They’re made from recyclable steel and designed to be repurposed when they come off site. These panels don’t just do their job while they’re standing – they also have a life beyond the project they were built for.

Sustainable Hoarding Materials That Make a Difference

Steel might not sound like the most eco-friendly material, but it’s highly recyclable – and that’s the point.

GoHoard panels can be taken down, cleaned up and used again. If they’re damaged or worn, the materials can be recycled instead of binned.

This approach supports a circular economy. It cuts down on waste, reduces the need to keep manufacturing new materials, and helps lower carbon emissions across the board.

Alongside this, we also run a dedicated recycling facility that processes up to 50 tonnes of plastic waste each day. That’s not just a claim – it’s part of our day-to-day operation.

Sustainable Hoarding with a Lower Carbon Footprint

Most hoarding systems rely on concrete blocks to weigh them down. Concrete has a heavy carbon footprint, mostly because of the cement used to make it.

GoHoard has replaced this with a low carbon ballast block that doesn’t use cement at all.

These blocks weigh 275kg each and do the same job – but their embodied carbon is 71% lower than standard alternatives. On larger sites, this makes a huge difference. For every 1,000 ballast blocks used, around 35 tonnes of CO₂ are saved.

That kind of reduction doesn’t come from switching lightbulbs. It’s the result of deliberate design decisions aimed at lowering impact without cutting corners on safety.

Measuring What Matters

Saying something is “eco-friendly” isn’t enough. It needs to be measured.

We provide a Carbon Assessment Certificate with every installation. This certificate breaks down the carbon footprint of the hoarding system used on each site, looking at Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

• Scope 1 includes direct emissions, like vehicle use.
• Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from things like electricity.
• Scope 3 includes everything else – materials, transport, and manufacturing.

This certificate is useful for meeting reporting requirements and helps construction teams to choose materials with a lower footprint.

Why Sustainable Hoarding Deserves More Attention

It’s easy to focus on big-ticket items when it comes to sustainability – renewable energy, electric vehicles, better insulation. But often it’s the smaller decisions that add up.

Sustainable hoarding alone won’t solve the climate crisis. But it’s a simple, effective step that the construction industry can take right now. It reduces waste, cuts carbon, and proves that temporary infrastructure doesn’t have to be throwaway.

For companies serious about hitting sustainability goals, it’s one of the easier wins.

Make Your Next Project More Responsible

GoHoard sustainable hoarding systems have been designed to support better building practices. With recycled materials, reusable panels, low-carbon blocks, and clear reporting, they offer a cleaner alternative to traditional hoarding.

If you’re looking to improve your environmental performance on site, sustainable hoarding is a good place to start.

Get in touch for a quote or to request a carbon breakdown for your next project. You can give us a call on 01226 654040 or send us a message using our online contact form for a swift response from a helpful member of our team.