To celebrate all things sustainability, help share tips for smarter environmental thinking and remind each other just how much our carbon impact matters, we’re inviting colleagues, friends of the business and our peers in the wider industry to take part in our quickfire environmental Q&A.

Next up, it’s Claire Mason, general manager at water leak detection specialist, Waterguard…

Where do you fit into the environmental sector?

At Waterguard, we’re passionate about protecting one of the world’s most precious resources — water. We work with clients who focus on sustainable construction, providing water leak detection systems to protect against damage, delay, and costs — while allowing them to gain BREEAM credits on their projects.

Complete the sentence – the UK is great at recycling…

…but could be better. Recycling rates have doubled in the past 20 years, but we are still only recycling 50% of our waste — so plenty of room for improvement!

Which sector do you think could achieve significant environmental progress this year?

The energy sector — to combat rising costs and develop alternative fuel sources.

What do you wish you’d known about the environment, as a child?

That the planet doesn’t have endless natural resources, and the importance of recycling in order to preserve our green spaces.

What’s the single biggest threat to the environment, in your opinion?

Climate change and civilisation’s inability to adapt.  

Share one tip to help people be ‘greener’, at work or at home:

Use less water and repurpose wastewater where possible.  

Tell us an environmental statistic that you think people need to know:

More than three billion litres of water is lost through leaky pipes in the UK every single day. And, almost 1/5 of all water pumped through our water pipes is wasted.

What’s the best thing you’ve ever reused/upcycled?

Clothes — I repurpose old items and design new ones.

If you were prime minister for the day, what’s the one thing you’d do to improve the UK’s sustainability agenda?

Make sustainable business strategies mandatory across the board.

Complete the sentence – in 100 years’ time, I hope…

That the planet is a more sustainable place — and that everyone knows their part to play in protecting it for future generations.