SUSTAINABILITY Polypipe and Lakes’ win WCoBM inaugral Environment Awards


Two building product manufacturers were recognised for their commitment to sustainability and the environment at the annual Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants’ City & Livery Awards.


CITY OF LONDON Livery company the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants has recognised the commitment of building product manufacturers and merchants to the environment by adding a Caring for the Environment category to its annual City & Livery Awards event. Winning the award for 2020 was Polypipe Civils & Green Urbani- sation for its significant com- mitment to, and investment in, recycling; its corporate reposition- ing to Green Urbanisation as an evolution of infrastructure; and its innovations in water management when it comes to supporting urban greening. Recent recycling milestones


reached by Polypipe include: 75% of all consumed polymer being recycled material; the reprocessing – rather than export – of 16,000 tonnes of UK-generated waste


each year; 15,000 tonnes CO2 saved a year, compared with land- fill disposal, and 75% of water employed across all recycling and manufacturing being recycled. Steve Durdant-Hollamby, divisional managing director, said: “In the longer term, our entire agenda is to fundamentally change the supply chain, mate- rial specification and construction best practice.


“Green Urbanisation introduces a new generation of technolo- gies that optimises green assets through an extended, integrated sustainable water management network. This includes hybrid solutions that combine green infrastructure such as roofs, gar- dens and trees with water storage and management systems within urban environments. The benefits are multiple:


reduced chance of flooding and enhanced drought resilience, increased biodiversity, lowering of the heat island effect, more green spaces and amenities, better air quality, and improved health and wellbeing. “This award is a great fillip for us, acknowledging as it does our great efforts to date, our significant investment and the commitment of our business to make an enduring, positive, sustainable impact upon on our cityscapes”.


The WCoBM also presented a Highy Commended award to Lakes Showering Spaces, to recognise the significant steps Lakes has taken to improve its impact on the environment. Lakes is the first in its sector to introduce fully recyclable packaging which significantly reduces waste to


landfill, and is the first to achieve the Carbon Neutral Standard based on an assessment of carbon emissions for its UK operation. The award also recognises the impact the packaging has on improving efficiencies in handling and distribution.


Lakes sales and marketing director Mike Tattam said: “It was a pleasure to be one of the first supplier members to be recognised for this award. The increasing threat of climate change is a daily reminder that we need to change how we operate as businesses. We are continually looking at ways to offset our carbon emissions and improve our environmental impact. “We are focusing on recycling all product waste, primarily glass and aluminium, and testing the most fuel-efficient models for our distribution fleet,” Tattam continued. “Recently we held a tree planting event at a local school, planting 200 trees as part of our offsetting programme. It’s an exciting journey and one that requires combined effort. So, we’re encouraging other manufacturers in our sector to follow our lead.” WCoBM is a Livery Company that supports training and education in the sector through its charitable fund. The ‘Caring


The Caring for the Environment awards were presented at an event at Haberdasher’s Hall in London by WCoBM Master Dame Fiona Woolfe CBE to (top) Matt Huskisson, general manager, Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation; Hollie White, commercial manager, and Steve Durdant-Hollamby, divisional managing director. Above: sales and marketing director Mke Tattam receives Lakes’ award from Dame Fiona.


for the Environment’ award was introduced to Livery members this year as part of the Company’s #BuildACareerWithoutLimits campaign. The campaign is an initiative that encourages young people, apprentices and students to consider working with a builders’ merchant or a building materials’ manufacturer.


BMJ


26


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2020


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