About GRO
What do we stand for?
The Green Roof Organisation (GRO) represents companies, organisations and people involved in or interested in nature-based roof solutions that help our towns and cities mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change whilst making them nicer, healthier places to live. GRO members positively contribute to the delivery of living green, blue and biosolar roofs, that support nature, provide amenity, attenuate rainwater and generate solar energy, helping ensure no roof goes unused.
Our Vision and Mission
Our Vision is for every city and town in the United Kingdom to require high quality green roofs on new build flat roofs, whether for amenity, biodiversity gain, rainfall management or simply their pure beauty. We will aim to drive the retrofitting of green roofs to existing buildings, where structurally possible, for the same reasons.
Our Mission is to support the delivery of high quality self-sustaining green roofs whilst informing the United Kingdom’s legislators, building developers, occupiers and educators about the wide range of environmental, social, health and curriculum benefits.
Our Membership
GRO represents all elements of the UK green roof industry including manufacturers of waterproofing and green roofing, suppliers of green roof systems and components, specialist contractors from the roofing and landscape sectors, and associates including other trade associations, NGO’s, insurance companies, academia, ecologists, designers and architects.
To join GRO please e-mail admin@greenrooforganisation.org for more information. Or visit the Apply to Become a Member page and fill in the form.
Our History
The Green Roof Organisation was established in 2008 in response to the demand for UK relevant guidance for the increasing number of green roofs being specified in the UK.
In 2009 work began on The GRO Green Roof Code of Best Practice for the UK, which was published in 2011. Significantly based on the German FLL guidelines, adapted to suit the UK market, the original ‘GRO Code’ gained widespread acceptance in the construction market, being used as a reference document by standards bodies, specifiers, manufacturers and contractors alike. A collaborative production that brought manufacturers, trade associations, non-profit organisations, Government Organisation’s and independent experts together the ‘GRO Code’ truly reflected the green roof industry of the time.
The original edition of the ‘GRO Code’ was published in 2014 and was expanded to encompass further clarifications, more detailed installation information and to reflect changes within the industry. The new 2021 Anniversary edition of the code is available here.
Our Affiliations
GRO is supported in its activities by various organisation’s and trade associations, these include:
Technical Help
Jeff Sorrill is a widely recognised UK green roof expert with a background in landscaping and graduate education. Jeff established the Green Roof Centre at the University of Sheffield in 2008, with the Centre’s remit being to strengthen the use of green roofs across the UK through independent robust research. In 2009 the Green Roof Centre gained funding from the European Commission to write a green roof code of best practice for the UK. In collaboration with the Green Roof Organisation, which at the time sat within the NFRC, the first GRO Green Roof Code of Best Practice was published in 2011. Jeff continues to be involved with many green roof projects of all different scales and has recently edited the anniversary edition GRO Code 2021.
Please e-mail Jeff Sorrill at technical@greenrooforganisation.org for assistance.
The Legal Bit
Green Roof Organisation Ltd, 16 Gaston Way, Shepperton, Surrey, TW17 8EX
Registered in England No. 12499755
Registered Office: 16 Gaston Way, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8EX.
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