Green Circle Solutions Helps Deliver the Next Generation of elemental, The Landscape Sustainability Tool
Green Circle Solutions (GCS) is proud to have successfully delivered a new version of elemental, the landscape sustainability tool, helping support one of the most collaborative and forward-thinking sustainability initiatives in the UK landscape and horticultural sector.
Created by the landscape industry, for the landscape industry, elemental is a web-based self-assessment tool designed to help professionals better understand, measure and improve the environmental and social impact of landscape projects.
The initiative is backed by a powerful coalition of organisations and industry leaders including the Landscape Institute, Royal Horticultural Society, British Association of Landscape Industries, Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, Association of Professional Landscapers and Horticultural Trades Association, alongside respected industry figures John and Vicky Wyer and Liz and Niel Nicholson.
elemental has been developed for garden designers, landscape architects, contractors, horticultural professionals and students working across projects of every scale, from private residential gardens to large commercial and public realm developments.
The aim of the tool is to help the industry create landscapes that work more harmoniously with nature, support people and communities, and reduce environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of a project, from design and construction through to maintenance and end-of-life considerations.
The platform provides users with evidence-based insights into the sustainability performance of their projects, enabling them to compare options, test alternative approaches and make more informed decisions before designs are finalised. It also includes reporting functionality, guidance resources and a downloadable knowledge base.
Green Circle Solutions has delivered a fully rebuilt and more intuitive version of the platform, designed to improve usability and provide a scalable foundation for future growth and adoption across the sector.
The enhanced tool is already being used by landscape professionals working on high-profile projects, including gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
At the heart of elemental are six interconnected pillars of sustainability, helping users understand the opportunities and trade-offs involved in landscape design:
Materials Management
Soils
Water & Air
Biodiversity
People & Place
Emissions
Together, these pillars help users consider issues such as embodied carbon, material reuse, biodiversity enhancement, soil health, water management, air quality and the wider benefits projects can bring to communities and wellbeing.
David Humphreys, Director at Green Circle Solutions, said: “ We are incredibly proud to have been chosen to help deliver elemental alongside such a respected and influential group of organisations. This project demonstrates the power of collaboration, technology and robust data to help an industry make better decisions and create meaningful positive change.”
Liz Nicholson, Director of elemental, added: “elemental has the potential to become a hugely valuable resource for the landscape sector. By bringing together carbon data with wider sustainability considerations in a practical and accessible way, it supports designers, clients and supply chains to make more informed decisions and drive positive change at scale.
We wanted to create something credible, useful and accessible, including a free entry-level version for the industry. Thanks to the collaboration behind the project and the expertise Green Circle Solutions has brought to the platform, we now have a tool that can help shape a more considered and conscious future for landscape design.”
Annie Buckle, Director and Research & Development Manager at elemental, said the latest version expands the tool significantly, enabling users to assess impacts during the design, construction and maintenance phases while incorporating additional data relating to materials, biodiversity, water and community impact. “One of the most impactful new features is the ability to measure carbon sequestration through plants and soils too,” she said.
Users can register for free and access the tool and knowledge base via elemental.
Pictured below: Annie Buckle and Liz Nicholson.
