DPR doesn’t just build green, we live it. We are on a journey to create a more sustainable work and built environment, revolutionizing how DPR operates, builds, travels, and influences the industry.

In support of this effort, we have built an integrated comprehensive program that continues to grow, setting the bar higher as we surpass each goal. This effort expands throughout every aspect of our business to ensure sustainability is a mindset that is truly embedded in our culture.

DPR’s commitment to creating a healthier future for people and the planet means taking a multi-pronged approach. Each of the following vehicles help to carry us closer to our goals.

With our Path to Regeneration shared in 2023, we have developed performance metrics based on how we operate as a company, how we build on our jobsites, and the product that is delivered to our clients. This path focuses deeply on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and defines the characteristics that will make us "most admired" in the green construction industry by 2030.

The Contractor’s Commitment to Sustainable Building Practices Is an industry-aligned framework to benchmark and report sustainability. DPR supported the development of the guidelines and continues to be an active member of the Sustainable Construction Leaders team within Building Green.

DPR’s Sustainability Best Practices combined with our EHSP create a detailed guide into the tactical efforts needed to push towards a more positive impact in construction means and methods. These project-specific guides outline our approach for evolving practices to make a meaningful impact in how we manage waste, water, energy, air quality, wellness and material selection. We work with local partners to formalize a project specific approach that will help us achieve our goals.

The Path to Regeneration is a roadmap for DPR’s vision to reduce carbon emissions across our value chain. It focuses on a direct data-driven approach, with progress tracked using real-time transparent data coupled with in-house, hands-on carbon sequestering initiatives.

The following highlights the progress we are making in:

• building a zero waste culture,
• prioritizing hybrid, electric and clean fuel for our equipment and fleet,
• developing more DPR zero energy offices and
• creating carbon accounting services that not only help us understand the impact we are making but also support our customers and partners with reaching their carbon-reduction goals.

DPR has developed in-house solutions to rethink the way we approach reducing, reusing and recycling waste across our operations. A few techniques we use are as follows:

• use of virtual design and construction (VDC) to reduce rework.
• Lean construction education and training to eliminate waste in our processes.
• working to track and manage waste across all projects, including a waste management plan that helps our teams communicate our goals and how they will be achieved.

DPR's goal is to be a zero waste organization by 2030, and we continue to pilot innovative solutions to help improve our diversion rates from jobsite composting and community gardens to using mushrooms to breakdown drywall.

In 2023, we increased the usage of hybrid and electric equipment on our jobsites and with fleet vehicles.

DPR’s plan is to accelerate the expansion and adoption of hybrid and electric equipment and fleet vehicles, as well as the infrastructure to support it. As new technologies emerge, we will continue exploring to ensure that we are incorporating the most sustainable solutions available.

As a national leader in sustainable construction, DPR walks the walk and tests out leading-edge design and construction methods through our own offices, which we call living labs. Each living lab offers us the opportunity to think about space differently and showcase:

• High performance at competitive rates.
• New possibilities for renovations in every climate.
• Integrated delivery yields exceptional results.

Creating Healthy Spaces

This past year, DPR worked to get several of DPR offices WELL certified and has consistently been making improvements to our jobsite environment for our teams in the field. DPR's Office and Jobsite Sustainability Best Practices offers ways to serve up proper nourishment and stretching opportunities to keep teams healthy. We also have programs in-place to help manage air quality and material selection. Whether on jobsites or in our offices, the health, safety and wellbeing of people remains a top priority, and we are working to provide solutions and benefits that drive impact.

Nearly 11% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from building materials and construction. When building operations are included, the construction industry as a whole is responsible for nearly 40% of the world’s CO₂. DPR is investing in innovative solutions for a healthier future for our planet and people and has developed in-house embodied carbon Life Cycle Assessment services to help decarbonize projects.

With our early engagement on projects, we are able to calculate the embodied carbon for projects on behalf of our customers to get an understanding of the overall carbon impact of different materials. We are also able to perform cost and constructability analysis of low-carbon material options, working with the design team and the owner to help make the best decisions.