VIEWPOINT
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SUPPLIERS FOR LOW- CARBON CONSTRUCTION?
Graham Wroe, sales director (building & distribution), Knauf Insulation
IF IT FEELS as though we’ve been talking about sustainability in construction for years, it’s because we have. But 2021 will be different. With the UK hosting this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, and low- carbon buildings at the heart of government plans for economic recovery, there’s new momentum behind efforts to reduce our industry’s impact on the world. And rightly so, because the need for sustainability has never been more pressing as we hurtle towards the deadlines for our binding commitments to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions. Naturally, our industry’s first focus is on the buildings we create. By 2050, all UK buildings need to be net-zero carbon. 80% of the buildings we’ll occupy in 2050 already exist today, yet only a tiny fraction of them meet the net-zero standard.
The Government recognises this, with big policy changes afoot to deliver more efficient buildings and close the performance gap. This year we’ll see an update to Part L of the building regulations, setting stricter building fabric efficiency standards as a stepping stone to the stringent measures in the Future Homes Standard, expected in 2025. The Part L update also introduces a focus on quality assurance, that will go hand in hand with changes to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regime putting ‘actual’ performance at the heart of the ratings system.
The market is changing But building energy efficiency is only one side of the equation. We can’t create truly low-carbon buildings if we don’t reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. So, the environmental impact of construction will be increasingly
products they supply, and be ready to answer trickier questions about their composition and embodied carbon.
under the microscope – including the operations of merchants and manufacturers.
We’re already seeing this scrutiny at different levels. The many architects who have already signed up to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge have committed to achieving net- zero or better by the end of the decade, including embodied carbon alongside whole-life operational carbon. At the same time, people are beginning to pay more attention to the products used in their homes, and how they contribute to their personal sustainability goals.
Sustainable logistics For merchants, the obvious direct challenge lies in making operations more sustainable. In moving products from manufacturer to customer, what can you do to reduce your carbon footprint? I believe that’s where it becomes important to take a closer look at your suppliers. Suppliers who take
sustainability seriously will already be operating in ways that make your business more efficient. At Knauf Insulation, we use high compression packaging that fits far more product in each pack and on each pallet than traditional packing methods. That
March 2021
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
reduces deliveries into and out of branch, cutting down on road miles and CO2 emissions. We also allow mixed loads of both Glass and Rock Mineral Wool products, which again can cut down on unnecessary lorry movements by ensuring you only transport the stock you need.
Packaging is another factor to consider. The realities of life on site and outdoor storage mean it’ll be a while before plastic packaging is eliminated in construction. But there are still steps that responsible suppliers should be taking now to reduce the impact of the products they supply to you in branch. For example, packaging can be optimised to reduce any unnecessary layers, and plastic films can be made from recycled materials, and be recyclable themselves. Even pallets can be made and used more efficiently if they’re well-designed and collected by the supplier for re-use.
It’s what’s inside that (also) counts
Efficient distribution is important, but the products themselves also need to tick the right boxes. As sustainability credentials increasingly influence product choice, it becomes more important for merchants to consider the environmental impact of the
For example, I expect we’ll see closer scrutiny of raw materials – with customers preferring products made using recycled content or renewable and abundant natural resources rather than fossil fuels. Similarly, we could see more of a focus on indoor air quality, with a push towards materials that emit low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). This was a driving principle behind our development of ECOSE® Technology, the unique bio-based binder we use in our Mineral Wool insulation which contains no added formaldehyde or phenol.
For merchants, the easiest answer is to only partner with manufacturers who take sustainability seriously, such that you can have confidence in the products you’re selling. That means businesses that have made clear and firm commitments to address their environmental impact, and who publish transparent updates on their progress towards net-zero. That was the guiding principle behind our own recent publication of ‘For a Better World’, Knauf Insulation’s sustainability strategy which includes detailed reports and a set of ambitious public commitments. The UK’s low-carbon future is impossible without a more sustainable construction industry. As trusted experts at the heart of the supply chain, merchants will play a vital role in making this happen. By partnering with progressive manufacturers, you can help your customers create the energy-efficient buildings the UK needs, with products that minimise their impact on the environment. BMJ
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