SUSTAINABILITY
energy efficient LEDs in our offices and changing part of the roof space in our warehouse to clear Perspex, allowing natural light into the building. “We are also seeking to move to electric vehicles and by early next year, should have five electric cars in place for our senior team members. We are currently investing in the infrastructure required to charge these vehicles at our branches with the aim of steadily introducing more electric cars into our fleet in the years ahead.”
Staying one step ahead At the same time, the company has invested around £2m in more environmentally friendly trucks that comply with the clean air zones being introduced by the Government across the UK. By March 2023, there will be nine new trucks out on the road which will help to significantly reduce emissions and air pollution.
“This investment has required careful planning as the delivery window for each truck is currently between 12 - 18 months. We are now reviewing the rest of our fleet based on these timings to continue the upgrade of our older vehicles while trying to stay one step ahead of technological change.
“As the whole construction industry shifts towards more sustainable practices, merchants have a key role to play. By making greener choices and focusing on continuous improvement, we can begin to make a positive difference to the environment. With the right level of investment, this approach can also drive operational efficiencies while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability that is valued by our customers and staff,” he says.
Selco Builders Warehouse, Barking
Solar moves
Selco Builders Warehouse has been undertaking a major installation of solar panels at a branch for the first time and a new recycling policy is being rolled out across the entire branch network, including the introduction of specialist timber skips.
The Barking branch has recently benefitted from the installation of more than 220 solar panels, which is already generating up to 40 per cent of the branch’s energy usage. Craig Ducker, head of operational projects and business services at Selco, says: “The solar panels were installed in Barking in late September and, despite not having the greatest weather conditions since installation, the early indications are that around 35-40 per cent of the electricity used in the branch is being generated through the solar panels.
“In the first week of having the solar panels installed, we saw a 46kgs reduction in carbon emissions. We will continue to monitor this trial but the long-term hope is that we can ultimately extend the concept across the wider Selco estate.”
Meanwhile, new recycling strategy trials have been successfully completed in five Selco branches, Milton Keynes, Cricklewood, Hanger Lane, Swansea and Cardiff Handfield Road. As a result of the trials, timber skips are to be introduced to all branches for any broken, offcut timber, fence panels, MDF and chipboard. New 1,100 litre wheelie bins for general waste will also be in branches while all cardboard and plastic will be returned to Selco’s Lightside Distribution Centre in Oxford for recycling. Specific plans for the recycling of pallets,
electrical waste and hazardous waste have all been developed.
Ducker adds: “One of the most pleasing elements of the trial was that colleagues were extremely eager to follow the correct recycling procedures so we are confident our new guidance and processes will make a huge difference.”
Amongst the other notable initiatives have been the creation of two Selco Forests. The first saw 106,000 trees planted on a near 100-acre site near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, swiftly followed by the planting of a further 160,000 trees across more than 60 hectares on a site near Llandrindod Wells in Wales.
In their lifecycle, the trees planted on both sites – which included Sitka Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir and Dawn Redwood – will result in 15,000 tons of carbon being sequestered, which equates to the offsetting of the amount of carbon used in four years of Selco customer deliveries. Carine Jessamine, Selco’s marketing director and sustainability lead, says: “We have a long- term blueprint to ensure we are playing our part in the global effort to tackle climate change. The Selco Forests are believed to be the first of their kind in the builders merchant industry and shows the decisive action we are taking to offset our carbon footprint.”
Elsewhere in the wide-ranging sustainability strategy, all 73 Selco branches have now switched to LED lights and sensors, saving up to 69 tons of carbon in a single branch each year. Gas consumption has also been reduced through the installation of The Vickers Energy Management System, which has now been fitted in over 60 per cent of branches.
Selco has also been adding cleaner fuel options to its fleet. The latest development has seen an
November 2022 A supplement to builders merchants journal
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