TRANSPORT
DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
How products get from factory to distribution to site can play a big part in adding to a company’s carbon footprint. Delivering products in a more sustainable way is going to be key, according to Colin McCreadie, managing director of Podfather, the transport solutions provider.
A
s multinational corporations, and large countries, step back from their environmental and ‘green’ objectives and pledges, the rest of the world is looking on thinking ‘what next?’ With sustainability defined as a societal goal and normative concept, allowing people to coexist over a long period of time, the individual and small business might be tempted into thinking ‘well that’s it, what I do won’t make a difference’. However, thinking such as the 1% rule, popularised by James Clear in Atomic Habits, or the Power of Habit, beg to differ, argues that small actions have a far larger cumulative effect than would be expected.
So, as the climate has significantly changed for the likes of BP and the USA, there are parallels that can be drawn with the building supply chain. Many of the large commitments and investments, have already been or are being made, and are, fingers crossed being stuck to. For example, Stark Building Materials UK recently appointed a Head of Sustainability who will oversee and implement sustainability initiatives across all operations. Whilst Crown Paints was awarded the Marie Claire Sustainability Award 2024 for Eco-Friendly Decorating Brand of the Year recognising its end-to-end approach across the product lifecycle and its achievements to date. But, what about us, the ‘1% ers’? What
can we do that will make a real difference? A growing number of builders merchants, and building supply companies, are looking at their logistics operations as an easy way to improve their sustainability or ESG (environmental, social, and governance) risks and opportunities.
Paper-free delivery
For example, Shawston, the only multi-depot supplier to the Mechanical Services, Fire Sprinkler and Dry and Wet Riser markets, is supporting its environmental and social objectives with the roll-out of Podfather logistics software. Delivering 1 million items a year, Shawston’s offers next day delivery, across the UK. Initially trialled at its High Wycombe branch, Shawston is now working towards 100% paper free deliveries. With around 3,500 deliveries a month, each resulting in at least two sheets of paper, this equates a saving of a tree a month on dispatch notes alone.
By replacing manual planning and load 36
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2025
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