Is Ecobuild an eco-friendly concept?

Last week saw Ecobuild, the world’s biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment come to London’s Earl Court.

With over 800 exhibitors, the aim of the event was to bring members of the construction and building industries together to learn more about sustainability in the built environment and to showcase new products.

With guest speakers including Margaret Beckett, Boris Johnson, Kevin McCloud and Germaine Greer, the event certainly drew in the crowds; but at what cost to the environment?

One of the speakers was heard asking the audience whether Ecobuild itself was a sustainable, low-carbon concept, when presumably many of the exhibitors’ stands would be thrown away at the end of the three days, along with all of the 2009 promotional material.

The energy used to heat and light the 26,000 capacity Earls Court venue must no doubt have been considerable, as must the amount of litter from fast food stands and leaflets needed to feed and inform the thousands of would-be environmentalists.

Although the organisers had gone so far as to say no press releases would be issued on paper this year, almost all of those exhibiting at the event were keen to hand out great wads of advertising to passers-by, with the dreaded plastic bag being dished out on more than one occasion.

While high-profile guests pleaded with the audience to make expensive sustainable alterations to their homes, strong over-lighting made their brows glow. And to further add to the irony, despite the large signs directing the crowds towards the speakers, trying to find a recycling bin in Earls Court was ‘needle in a haystack’ time.

The core concept of Ecobuild is completely applaudable; as despite this time of money-pinching and cut-backs it highlights the vitally important plight of the environment. It recognises the necessity that we not forget the sustainability struggle in these difficult times, and that new and innovative methods of creating low-carbon and even zero-carbon homes are still promoted and celebrated.

But, perhaps next year Ecobuild could set an example to us all, and practise what it so vehemently preaches.

Sarah Garrod