SUSTAINABILITY
use of fleet doesn’t only reduce the green house gas emissions, it goes direct to the bottom line. Bradford says that waste is no different. “Reducing your waste helps the environment and reduces your costs. These are great examples of how sustainability is so aligned to the performance and efficiency of your operation. “For merchants, a key aspect of the ‘S’ in ESG is all about talent and development. In an industry with an average churn of 20%, it’s vital to give colleagues the opportunity to develop their careers and to foster a positive working culture where everyone feels supported. The benefits of such a culture are many, but in simple financial terms, the average cost being around £10,000 to replace a staff member should be motivation enough.
“At Bradfords, we make sure staff at all levels of the business have opportunities for progression and support them in developing their careers whatever their aims may be. This is already fully embedded into our business, but when viewed through the framework of ESG, you can see how it makes sense from both a social and commercial perspective,” he says. Good governance makes good business sense, and not just in the construction industry. Bradford pints out that BooHoo lost £350 million off its market cap when it was reported not to have met its modern slavery requirements. The consequences of not testing the supply chain can be significant. This offence would carry a penalty of up to two years imprisonment for individuals and a fine of up to 4% (capped at £20 million) of annual global turnover for a company found to be in breach.
“It’s clear we have reached a point where we can’t afford to ignore ESG,” he says. “Your bank will demand you have an ESG framework and so will investors. Your customers, who will be required to meet new regulations that are coming through fast, will need your support in doing so. Your staff will increasingly include the next generation of workers who care far more about sustainability and they will go elsewhere if they can’t see how you’re applying this. And the longer you delay, the harder it will be to catch up. “By collaborating as a sector we can rise to the challenges that lie ahead. At Bradfords, we’re open about where we are on our own sustainability journey and we welcome any opportunity to share our learnings with our peers.”
James Beesley, commercial director of independent builders’ merchant, Beesley & Fildes,
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agrees that the need for businesses to reduce their environmental impact is growing fast. “As the effects of climate change intensify, we all have a responsibility to make positive changes that can help protect the environment. Even small steps can make a big difference, bringing benefits to the planet, people, and companies of all sizes,” he says.
“At Beesley & Fildes, we have been weaving sustainability into our business strategy for many years. As our company, and our footprint have grown, so has our focus on green initiatives. Within the last 18 months, there has also been a clear shift among our customers, with more people seeking evidence of our commitment to sustainability.
“These factors have seen us take a proactive approach that considers how we can deliver tangible changes across the business through investments large and small.”
Turning waste to energy One of the first and most significant steps in the company’s strategy was in 2017 when it built a £500,000 biomass plant at the Widnes branch, primarily to recycle more timber, such as pallets and offcuts which would be put into several skips every week and taken to landfill. Now, the waste timber is chipped and sent directly into a storage area for the biomass fuel. Any nails are removed and recycled as scrap.
Biomass is a renewable energy source, generated from burning the timber, and enables
the plant to generate enough energy to provide heating and hot water for all six departments at our branch. In the summer, the chippings are stored for extra fuel in the winter or if the company needs more energy at other points in the year. As well as helping the company to cut carbon emissions, the plant is saving the business around £1,000 per week in skip hire costs.
Ethical clothing
Beesley says that the company’s sustainability strategy has also seen it invest in more environmentally-friendly workwear for the team. “The branded uniforms, which are worn by around 200 members of staff, are supplied by Ørn International and manufactured using recycled polyester from plastic waste. The clothing is certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) so must meet strict requirements for recycled content, social and environmental practices and chemical restrictions. “The cost of these uniforms is higher than our previous supplier, but this is balanced by the improved quality of the clothes. This means we are not having to replace items every six to eight months and minimising clothing waste in the process,” he says.
Continuous improvement is at the heart of the Beesley & Fildes approach to sustainability. “We are always looking for opportunities to make practical changes that could help cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and deliver cost savings. Recent initiatives include swapping lights to
A supplement to builders merchants journal November 2022
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