HEAVYSIDE
their products to them. This would have been unheard of two years ago. But now, as those relationships continue evolve, we’re seeing many come together to work as one across the supply chain.”
“Could there be a positive legacy to this when the dust eventually settles? Perhaps so. Look at how we adapted to remote working and the ease at which we now continue to work digitally. We may continue this shift away from the customer/ supplier rhetoric and more towards a partnership approach – I firmly believe that those of us who do so will come out on top,”he adds
Sustainability
BRIGHT? W
IS THE FUTURE
If 2020 was the year of ‘unprecedented’ and ‘new normal’, what can we make of how 2021 panned out? BMJ talks to one cement manufacturer about the events of this year.
ith the construction sector lying at the heart of the post-Covid recovery here in the UK, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind
at the start of this year that an interesting and challenging 12 months lay ahead., says Paul Lees, had of commercial at Tarmac Cemen. Material world
According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), prices of construction materials has risen every month for a year (November 2021).
“Indeed, in
the 25 years I’ve been working in this industry, I’ve not seen any cost increases like the ones our industry is currently
facing. We’ve all had to grapple with how to
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manage price rises and shortages of materials. Regardless of product or manufacturer, we’re all in the same boat,”Lees says.
“We’ve had to adapt how we work with our merchant and retail customers. This has meant having honest conversations with customers. We’re all experiencing cost inflation, right across the supply chain, and it’s crucial that we are as transparent as we can be. That means talking about where our cost pressures lie as suppliers and, in turn, understanding then where our customers face their own cost pressures.” “It’s important to talk about what the issues are, and help our customers with how they can communicate this to their own customers.”
Relationships
“The importance of good communication and strong relationships has never been more important. For many of us, gone is that traditional ‘supplier-customer’ dynamic. Now, we’re taking a much more collaborative approach. Take HGV driver shortages, for instance. Many suppliers have worked with retailers to use retailers’ own resources, to get
“Another huge focus for the construction sector is sustainability. Like many other leaders in the sector, we’re committed to continuous improvement and driving forward innovations in this area. And 2021 saw us take a new approach in how we package our materials.” “We have been laying out a long-term roadmap to make recycled packaging work for bagged cement and earlier this year we were proud to become the first major cement manufacturer in the UK to move to 50% recycled plastic in our packaging, with the introduction of new all-weather, fully recyclable bags,”he says.
“There is an appetite for more sustainable packaging solutions. In a survey of 400 end- users ranging from large contractors to small builders in November 2020, seven out of ten said they would prefer to use 50% recycled plastic if given the choice at the point of purchase. This compares to 12% for Blue Circle non-recycled plastic and 10% for a tough paper bag from another brand.”
“The challenge for us, and any cement manufacturer, has always been to maximise the recycled content of packaging without compromising the functional benefits. Our new packaging solution is the result of two years of extensive trial work, delivering a tried and tested solution which remains the only sustainable, weatherproof bag solution on the market,” he adds.
Adapting to changes Lees continus: “Perhaps 2021 can be best summed up in one word: adapt. For those who can’t adapt and those who refuse to change, are the ones who will fall by the wayside. For those who do, for those who understand the importance of working together and who see the true value in relationships and partnership working – they are the ones who will thrive. The challenges will continue but it’s critical we build confidence across the supply chain and work together.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2021
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