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With the union of Harmony Van Kuyl’s slow-living style and Jase Van Kuyl’s extensive experience in the construction industry, this power duo are forging the way forward as pioneers in becoming sustainable builders. It is JVK & Sons industry aim, to be ‘certified sustainable’ by 2025.

By making conscious choices when it comes to supplies, materials and ecologically replenishable options for construction, Harmony, Jason and team are constantly evolving to employ better processes and utilize greener options in both materials and productions. It’s no secret that the construction and building industry are one of the most environmentally impactful industries to exist in the modern world.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (specifically the National Waste Report 2020 (key statistics here)), in 2018-2019 Construction and Demolition waste was the biggest contributor to solid waste in Australia by far, encompassing a huge 44% of the total.

Construction also accounts for the second-highest Waste Intensity (data here), with its production of massive quantities of demolition waste and contaminated soils. This shocking statistic is second only to gases, water, power and waste services themselves – a humbling position to be reckoned with.

With the welcome integration of several mandates and waste-management infrastructures and plans, we must act now to actively reduce our waste disposal methods. At JVK & Sons, we hope to (literally) pave the way forward to a less-impactful industry. As part of our transparency to you, we will endeavour to provide you with a JVK & Sons waste-management report at the close of our project with you.

Extended Producer Responsibility (ESR)

Several industries are rightfully motivated to employ strategies such as extended producer responsibility. Currently, Australia has no law-mandated nor nationally opted-for practices to demonstrate such measures.
Those who have forged their own waste reducing processes – such as the Vinyl Council of Australia – who since 2002, have consciously used their offcuts to be repurposed into products, which would have previously been sent to landfill.

Another pioneering initiative has been formed by CSR Gyprock recycling contractors, who charge a small fee to contractors to collect any offcuts and left over building materials after installation, for recycling. These initiatives show that the intent and opportunity is there, and we are working toward our very own ESR for JVK & Sons.

Whilst the initial pivot into greener practices may be stop-and-go – with learning and mistakes made along the way – we opt to provide our clientele with choices and options for a less ecologically impactful project, from the businesses we use to the materials we source for your build.
In adopting extended producer responsibility, we acknowledge that there will be some road-blocks and disconnects between PARTIALLY sustainable interactions and connections in construction, to WHOLLY sustainable practices from beginning to end, until such time there are company-driven initiatives OR legally mandated regulations. We have no misconceptions that this will be an easy undertaking – but we are motivated, inspired and aligned ethically to get there!
Since 2006, the Australian Building Sustainability Association has existed to provide an accreditation scale in order to assess construction and building companies. By making careful choices in the process of building projects, from the insulation down to the window performance and shading details, there are many steps we can take to align JVK & Sons with methodologies that move toward being a certified ABSA company.
We can’t wait to show you what we’re made of.