UK Green Building Council Groundbreaking Systems Change Programme

Simon Matthews, Sustainability Lead at Stephen George + Partners (SGP), shares his experience of taking part in the groundbreaking Systems Change programme being run by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC). 

In September 2023 the UKGBC, launched a programme to explore A Sustainable Built Environment through Systems Change. Participants were invited from across the sector, to share experiences, discuss challenges and to imagine a more sustainable future through collaboration and change.

At a two-day conference in October, 60 or more delegates, representing the full spectrum of actors in the built environment – from contractors to customers, investors to insurers, and developers to designers – came together and agreed on five key areas, or fractals of the system, in which change was critical:

• The Purpose of the Built Environment;
• Finance;
• Voices and Stakeholders;
• Leadership;
• Materials.

This report, prepared by its members, follows the work of the Materials Fractal. It outlines how we are beginning to frame a new way of working, distinct from ways followed in the past. It introduces a new approach in our consideration, specification and use of materials in the built environment – the process of Systems Change.

Download the report here:

UKGBC Materials Fractal Systems Change Report v2