SUSTAINA TA Fo S Focus ustainability
has become an increasingly im - portant issue for all businesses. It
is something that we have a shared responsibility to address, whether from a commercial perspective or a more personal one. Many is- sues fall under the ‘sustain- ability’ umbrella, so a holis - tic, bigger-picture approach is essential for merchants to understand how these is - sues impact their customers and projects
This means that in addi - tion to ensuring products are designed and used in a way that delivers optimum performance over their life, other issues need to be con - sidered. For instance, are these products responsibly sourced? Can they be re- used or recycled? And what is their carbon footprint?
Minimising waste
From a merchant’s perspec - tive, disposal of building materials is a major concern for those who want to avoid However, before we reach the disposal stage, it’s es - sential that customers and end users are conscious of the importance of the
ocusing on the big sustaible picture
ainab g
sing on Tarma
waste is to ensure that peo - ple understand how much product is actually needed for a project, and which products are most suitable for the task in hand.
One of the best and most
For instance, if an individ- ual is working on a small- scale project, products such
packs could be a great way of minimising waste. Con-
of cement needed for one
n the big i
gger
Bill Price, national commercial technical manager at Taical manager at Tarmac Cement, looks at the advantages of a holistic appr oach to sustainability.
ers should always look to recycle rather than taking
is vital to helping manage environmental impacts across the construction supply chain and recycling depots can be found across the UK where construction,
waste is reused to create new products.
Accredited products It is important that mer- chants understand custom-
sized bag means that no cement will be wasted by splitting a bag.
There are also a number of other highly innovative products available that
have greatly contributed to better sustainability in con - struction. One innovation that has had a major impact has been the introduction of plastic packaging. As a ma - terial for packaging cement, plastic has been shown to have a lower environmen - tal impact across its full lifecycle – therefore making it a more sustainable alter - native to paper. In fact, a survey carried out by BASF found that plastic packed cement is 39 per cent more environmentally friendly than paper.
This weather-resistant plastic packaging also
as products can be stored outdoors on pallets, freeing up valuable inside space. It is also common for paper packaging to be ripped or damaged, either through weather impacts or general wear and tear. Therefore, by stocking products in plastic packaging, mer - chants can capitalise on waste.
Wherever waste is unavoidable, consum-
BMJ November 2016
products that are robust, durable and which address environmental challenges. They also need to be able to help builders choose the right product and quantity for their projects, thereby helping them meet sustain- ability targets.
It’s also important that a merchant knows where products originate as customers are putting
increased emphasis on the need to understand the origin of the materials they use and ensure they’re re - sponsibly sourced, , in line with the principles of BS 8903. Independent product
UK cement manufacturer to be awarded the Respon-
packed cement range. Whole life
the process for selecting sustainable products. One such accreditation is the
that assesses responsi - ble sourcing policies and practices throughout the product supply chain. The universal rating system, part of the BES 6001 frame - work, allows merchants to identify products that can help their customers meet sustainability targets.
Tarmac has championed the importance of responsi - ble sourcing throughout the supply chain and its com - mitment to sustainability
of the business works. In
All elements of the industry need to work collabora - tively to ensure that we consider the whole life of a product or project. Mer - chants can help by offering and advising on the selec - tion of durable materials that are most effective for the application in hand. For instance, the use of lower-carbon CEMII ce - ment is a popular way for builders to decrease emis - sions during production and to create sustainable, low carbon projects. A product such as Tarmac’s Mastercrete produces 15 per cent less carbon dur - ing manufacturing and is recognised by the afore- mentioned BRE Responsi - ble Sourcing Standard. Businesses like Tarmac are always continuing to develop innovative new sustainable solutions to address the ever evolving demands of customers, so it’s important that mer - chants meet this demand by offering the right prod - uct ranges and guidance in choosing and applying sustainable solutions.
As builders face pressure to champion sustainable construction methods it is vital they select and use re - sponsibly sourced building materials. This will help to meet building legislation and add real value to their business.
37
securing the highest classi-
AINABILITY
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