Kilnbridge Wins Two International Green Apple Awards

KILNBRIDGE WINS TWO INTERNATIONAL GREEN APPLE AWARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE 

 Kilnbridge is proud to announce that it has been awarded two prestigious International Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice, celebrating a commitment to sustainable construction and infrastructure delivery across two landmark projects. 

The Green Apple Environment Awards are internationally recognised accolades that celebrate environmental best practice across industries, Governments and communities. They aim to recognise, reward and promote environmental excellence worldwide. The awards were in recognition of the delivery of sustainable innovation and best practice at Colne Valley Viaduct and Old Oak Common. 

Colne Valley Viaduct: Engineering Ingenuity Meets Environmental Care 

Kilnbridge was contracted to deliver the complex construction of 58 reinforced concrete V-piers for the iconic Colne Valley Viaduct – the longest railway bridge in the UK. Faced with the challenge of removing temporary concrete props from beneath the completed bridge structure (within confined cofferdams and without crane access) Kilnbridge’s team devised a pioneering solution. By deploying a low-profile skidding system using Hydra-Slide technology, the props were safely slid out and lifted for off-site processing. 

Sustainability highlights including the avoidance of traditional demolition and the protection of sensitive marine habitats, minimisation of environmental impact including noise and air pollution and delivery at zero additional cost through in-house innovation. The solution is also repeatable and can be adapted to different site conditions, meaning it can be utilised on future projects. 

Further, concrete waste management was also optimised by transporting intact sections off-site for processing, improving efficiency and reducing on-site handling. 

Old Oak Common: Building Greener Infrastructure 

At Old Oak Common, Kilnbridge is playing a key role in delivering sustainable infrastructure for one of the UK’s most ambitious transport hubs, which, once completed will form part of HS2. The project showcases best-in-class practices in waste reduction, carbon-conscious construction and circular economy principles, reinforcing Kilnbridge’s leadership in responsible engineering. 

As part of the enabling works at Old Oak Common, Kilnbridge found a smart way to repurpose 119 precast concrete L-walls, diverting them from waste by donating them to a local business. Instead of crushing the units, they were reused resulting in the saving of 340 tonnes of concrete and saving 1.25 tonnes of CO₂e emissions whilst also reducing noise and dust. 

This initiative also supported a local small business, strengthened supply chains and proved that early collaboration and reuse can deliver real environmental and social impact. 

A further initiative at Old Oak Common saw Kilnbridge reduce embodied carbon through a specification change in the concrete mix. By switching from a CEM III/A binder to a higher GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag) content and CEM III/B mix, a projected saving of 877 tonnes of CO₂e emissions across the construction of diaphragm walls, slabs and base slabs has been achieved. 

“These two Green Apple awards are a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our teams,” commented Tom Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer at Kilnbridge. “We’re proud to be recognised for solutions that not only solve complex engineering problems but also protect the environment and set new benchmarks for sustainable construction.” 

These accolades reflect Kilnbridge’s ongoing dedication to engineering solutions that not only meet complex technical demands but also prioritise environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability. The award wins place Kilnbridge amongst a select group of innovators who are not only solving engineering challenges but doing so with sustainability at the core.