In this interview, Dan Sweeney, Group Sustainability Manager at John F Hunt, and ASBP’s Debbie Ward, discuss John F Hunt’s evolution from demolition to engineering-led projects and its growing focus on circular economy strategies. Dan shares insights on how the firm integrates sustainability into its operations, the challenges of adopting circular economy practices, and the importance of early collaboration with clients and the supply chain.
John F Hunt Limited is a specialist enabling works contractor who offers services ranging from demolition to superstructure construction. Established in 1982 the company has worked on many prestigious projects in central London and the Southeast. The company is committed to making the Circular Economy a reality through collaboration and engagement within the industry. Being contracted at the enabling works phase puts John F Hunt in a unique position to influence the destinations of materials from its sites. By engaging with supply chain partners, they aim to reduce the embodied carbon within their projects.
Debbie:
Welcome, Dan. Thank you very much for taking the time to chat with us at ASBP. We’re delighted that John F Hunt has joined us as a patron member. To start, could you give us a brief overview of John F Hunt?
Dan:
John F Hunt is an enabling works contractor, primarily focused on central London. We’re part of the wider John F Hunt Group, which consists of over 21 construction-based companies. Our two main contracting businesses are John F Hunt Limited and John F Hunt Regeneration, but we very much draw on all our experiences to deliver our projects across the nation.
While our origins lie in more standard demolition projects, we’ve evolved into more engineering-led, retrofit-style projects, often referred to as “cut and carve”. Our business model has shifted to meet market demands, we will continue to offer a comprehensive solution to our clients as the market evolves.
Debbie:
That’s great! Moving on to the circular economy – what does the circular economy mean to John F Hunt, and what inspired you to adopt circular economy strategies and practices?
Dan:
We embarked on our low-carbon journey during COVID and gained real momentum around 2021. Initially, we focused on energy consumption and carbon reduction, and from there, it naturally expanded into the circular economy. As an industry, we’ve been recycling for many years, but the principle of retaining material value for as long as possible has always been central to demolition – it’s also a vital revenue stream. Over time, we’ve seen increasing interest from clients in reusing materials, which has driven us to specialise in balancing their aspirations with realistic targets. We now have a dedicated team focusing solely on circular economy initiatives, from manufacturer take-back schemes to exploring other circular economy solutions. This has become core to our business model, and we’re embedding sustainability and circular economy practices across all our projects, working closely with clients and our supply chain to achieve these goals.
Debbie:
Interesting, and leading on from that, what is John F Hunt doing to ensure your team internally is aligned with circular economy strategies? And are you helping your clients and supply chain adopt these practices as well?
Dan:
Initially, it was slow going – changing behaviours is always a challenge. We focused heavily on data, which allowed us to support decision making, whether that’s in terms of cost, carbon or other benefits. Simplifying the message was important too; for example, if you’re looking at fuel savings, material reuse, or using different or fewer materials, these all lead to reductions in carbon emissions. Once each department started to understand what the implications and impact were around different choices and solutions, and how circular economy practices applied to their work, it became easier.
In many cases, our teams were already naturally looking for circular, sustainable options, so we’ve been able to support and highlight the additional benefits to clients. We’re also working closely with our clients to integrate circular economy principles from the outset. Clients are involving us earlier in projects now, sometimes even during the pre-demolition audit phase, where we can offer more detailed guidance. As the movement grows, we’re also focusing on how to bring our supply chain up to the same standards, since they’ll also need to meet the criteria set by both clients and funders.
Debbie:
Beyond data and tools, are there any specific training initiatives you’ve implemented to support circular economy practices? Do you offer in-house training, or are there external providers you work with?
Dan:
The training we offer is quite varied. Internally, we provide tailored training to different departments, ensuring we don’t overwhelm people with information that’s irrelevant to their role. When putting together a tender or building a project plan, we work closely with the team to integrate circular economy practices from the beginning.
Externally, we’ve hosted informal lunch-and-learn sessions and presentations for architects, designers, and engineers. For example, if an architect wants to reuse a material or is looking to design for disassembly, then there is scope for collaboration. We can provide insight into how a design may or may not translate in the real world. Circular economy practices aren’t fully established across all sectors yet, so building relationships and sharing knowledge within the industry has been key. We’re starting to see more collaboration, and these partnerships are helping us to push these ideas forward to inform the delivery of circular solutions on live projects.
Debbie:
Lastly, what additional support would John F Hunt need to further focus on low-carbon and circular economy practices? What areas could help drive these initiatives forward?
Dan:
Policy certainly has a role to play, especially when it comes to materials that are harder to integrate into the circular economy, like certain plastics. In those cases, policy can help bridge the gap by levelling the playing field and encouraging more solutions. That said, we don’t want to be overly reliant on policy, but there’s definitely a place for it.
We also see a need for more supply chain engagement, particularly during tendering. Tenders are often carried out in silos, but we’ve started submitting dual bids – one based on the client’s request and another that offers a different, more circular and/or sustainable approach. This alternative often proves more beneficial, as it reduces materials and movement, making the project more efficient overall.
There is on average a a six-week turnaround to try and firstly be competitive and win the project, but secondly – to try and understand ‘can it be done, or can it not be done’? And what we would need to make that decision? There are a lot of grey areas and information gaps when you are tendering a job, early conversations are key. Rather than leaving aspirations on the shelf until it’s too late, we need to collaborate early in the process to assess whether circular economy practices are feasible. Engaging the supply chain sooner, including the main contractor, if necessary, allows us to address these issues before we’re on-site. Ultimately, it’s about breaking down silos and fostering collaboration at every level of the project.
For more information about John F Hunt, please visit their website: https://www.johnfhunt.co.uk/.