INDUSTRY VOICE
BMF hears about Northern Ireland protocol
Three more BMF net zero carbon business champions announced
THREE BMF MEMBER companies were named in this month’s cohort of net zero carbon Business Champions announced by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) as part of their CO2nstruct Zero initiative.
THE UK GOVERNMENT is considering its next move on the Protocol to help business, the BMF was told by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last month.
We took part in an invitation- only video-call to hear Brandon Lewis MP outline the political situation, the state of the Union, and Anglo-Irish relations. Also on the call was former Brexit negotiator, and now Cabinet Office Minister, Lord David Frost.
The Secretary of State looked forward to making the Protocol work better for firms to trade more easily and described Northern Ireland’s position as unique and beneficial to trade - because it is both within the EU Single Market and the United Kingdom. Mr Lewis spoke of economic opportunities that could result from more American investment in Northern Ireland. Lord Frost said it was Government policy to protect the Belfast (or Good Friday) Agreement but that the Protocol was failing to protect and support companies to trade - notably with the rest of the UK - and people to go about their daily business.
More effort is necessary to resolve issues such as the “goods at risk” rule that hampers BMF members who ship goods across from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
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BMF supplier and service members, Ibstock plc, Peak and Wavin joined the four existing BMF Business Champions by committing to share evidence of their net zero carbon programmes and to contribute to the CO2nstruct Zero reporting process. They have all committed to work with other companies in the sector in order to support the industry-wide change programme.
Ibstock track progress tracked against a Sustainable Roadmap to 2025, with a key measure of a minimum 15% reduction in CO2 per tonne of production by that date. As part of this drive, major investment at one of their factories will make it an exemplar of global environmental best practice in the construction product sector – reducing process carbon emissions by circa 50% with the remainder offset to make what Ibstock believes will be the world’s first Net Zero brick factory for scope 1 and 2 emissions. New and sustainable products have already been introduced, with others in development. By 2025 these should account for 20% of sales turnover. Further targets within the roadmap include zero waste to landfill, 40% reduction in preventable plastic packaging, 5% reduction in mains water usage per tonne of production and 100% of suppliers meeting their Supplier Sustainability Code of Business Conduct.
Peak, a BMF service member, helps merchants and manufacturers to drive improved business performance using Decision Intelligence. Peak’s Decision
Intelligence software embeds AI in routing technology, ensuring that delivery vehicles are more productive and travel fewer miles. Wavin is working to reduce carbon both in the products it makes and in everything that concerns their manufacture and distribution. They have a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and an ambition to lead the industry in sustainability by 2025, by which time they will have a fully electric car fleet. Their four manufacturing sites already run on 100% renewable energy, 40% of their forklift fleet uses Bio LPG, and transporting products in the most sustainable way is helping to make significant CO2 savings. Managing the full lifecycle of products is another consideration. Around 30% of their products are currently manufactured from recycled material, with a target of 60-70%.
John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, said: I’m delighted to see the initiatives that Ibstock, Peak and Wavin have introduced in their drive to net zero gaining recognition in this way. I think it is important that the building materials industry shares best practice, so we can move forward together. Clearly there is a lot still to do, but with seven BMF Business Champions now in place, with ACO Technologies, APP Wholesale, Bradfords Building Supplies and Travis Perkins Plc gaining Champion status last month, we are helping to build a bigger cross-industry movement that will help everyone gain knowledge and learn from their peers.”
The three BMF members were amongst 12 organisations confirmed as the second wave of CO2
nstruct Zero Business Champions, the others being Adair,
Six blaze a trail with IOBM SIX TRAILBAZERS,
ACO, Knauf Insulation, the Keystone Group, Mannok,
the NMBS and Reisser have joined The Institute of Builders Merchants (IoBM) as Corporate Supplier members, the recently enhanced membership category for manufacturers and suppliers to the merchant industry who support the IoBM’s professional training ethos.
Fees paid by Corporate Supplier members will fund the support of training and development throughout the professional Institute. In return they may nominate two employees as IoBM contacts within their business, and the Institute will include details of
any free CPD or merchant training programmes offered by Corporate Supplier members.
John Newcomb BMF Chief Executive said: “The past year has shown the power of working together and ‘inclusivity’ will become a watchword of the IoBM. Corporate Supplier members will help us embrace the entire building materials sector within the Institute. That this category has rapidly gained support from the industry’s leading buying society and five major building materials suppliers signals its relevance and value across the whole industry.” “We are also looking to attract a diverse group of individual members, particularly younger members, and have an initial target of 1000 new members within the first year.”
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2021
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