CBRE Innovation Challenge 2026 – Semi-Finalists

We were delighted to attend the CBRE Innovation Challenge 2026 semi-finals in Leeds earlier this week.

Being shortlisted was a fantastic achievement for our team, reflecting our commitment to delivering meaningful, sustainable solutions in collaboration with our partners. Our entry focused on a water-saving initiative developed alongside CBRE and their client.

The Project

CBRE, the world’s largest commercial property manager, is committed to reducing environmental impact across its sites. In line with these goals, we partnered on a project at a large complex in North-East Wales to improve water efficiency within their Sprinkler System.

To remain compliant, these systems require a 30-minute weekly test, during which technicians must observe the discharged water to ensure it remains clear. However, this compliance requirement meant that vast quantities of water were routinely wasted, as large volumes of water were discharged to drain.

As a CBRE customer, Airbus was keen to explore a more sustainable solution in line with CBRE’s environmental commitments. Our challenge was to design and implement a system that would reduce water waste without compromising compliance, safety, or performance.

Our team conducted detailed flow rate measurements and performance calculations for all active fire pumps on-site to assess the potential for water recycling. We then designed a solution that captures and redirects the water used during the weekly testing back into the site’s sprinkler storage tanks, rather than discharging it to drain.

To maintain visibility of water clarity and meet compliance standards, sight glasses were installed in the system. This was to allow technicians to visually inspect the water during and after each test. This design ensures the system remains fully compliant with the LPC Rules incorporating BS EN 12845, while drastically reducing water consumption.

Following the success of this project at Airbus Broughton, discussions are underway to potentially implement similar recycling systems at other sites. This initiative demonstrates how innovative thinking, strong client collaboration, and a commitment to compliance can deliver meaningful sustainability outcomes.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to present our case study, explore other innovations, and connect with businesses from across the UK.

We’re proud to share that we have now progressed to the final – best of luck to our team!