LANDSCAPING S
ustainability is a huge topic, and over recent years we seem to have gained momentum of people understanding more about it, and utilising more
sustainable products within their outdoor space designs. There’s a definite push for biophilic design - bringing nature into the build and using green materials. It’s about connecting with nature, and it’s influencing design, product development, and brand strategy. In terms of colour trends, we’ve seen a significant shift away from the grey tones that have dominated for years, with a new focus on warmer, more earthy tones and the increasing use of buff materials.
People are connecting with their outdoor spaces as a true extension of their homes, and this is driving a desire for products and designs that foster a sense of wellbeing, and a stronger connection to nature. This trend is being accelerated by the rise of hybrid working and a greater societal appreciation, post-Covid lockdowns, for the benefits of spending time outdoors.
The health benefits of nature for our physical and mental wellbeing have been widely publicised, even just going out for a quick walk. That’s certainly something that we are seeing more in the landscape industry – people want to enjoy their great outdoors.
A sustainable future Bradstone is the landscaping products brand for Holcim UK, and we have a strong commitment to innovation with a dedicated materials development and product team constantly investigating ways to reduce the environmental impact of our products. This focus on sustainability is not just about product development, but a collaborative approach. We work closely with our merchant partners to understand what’s happening on the ground. Their teams interact with customers
COME OUTSIDE
Jo Roberts, head of product management for Bradstone tells Oliver Stanley how a return to nature is shaping the landscaping industry.
coming into branches daily, and so they feed information back to us and it’s often their insight that highlights the trends. We work with partners to understand what’s happening, to recognise the pain points they face, and how that can feed back into what we’re developing. Their invaluable feedback, combined with our analysis of market trends and garden shows, directly informs our product portfolio to ensure it meets growing customer demand. A good example of this was the design process for our new driveway products. Designed in response to the trend for heavier EV vehicles, it’s a 60mm block paving made in the UK. It combines the durability needed for modern-day use with a low-maintenance, contemporary aesthetic that aligns with the industry’s shift towards a more natural look.
Navigating new legislation The landscaping industry is also adapting to a rapid pace of legislative change - I’ve never known so much legislation come along so quickly. Most notable from our perspective is Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). There’s a lot going on with rain gardens and the SUDS movement linked with climate change concerns, and, although BNG primarily relates
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to new build housing and public spaces, we are seeing an increase in desire from homeowners to make habitats for wildlife and build more green space along with hard landscaping. This is a positive driver for innovation, pushing the industry to create more permeable surfaces and biodiverse green spaces. The legislation is determining which products we can supply, and how we develop urban landscapes and gardens to fit that criteria. We have great biodiversity in the UK in general, so the landscape industry is really embracing that. Giving our partners and customers the right information about how to take the stipulations coming through from that legislation forward is crucial. We need to arm our customers with the right tools to navigate this new landscape, and work together to obtain the right information to make sure that we’re delivering on the key goals that the government wants to drive. Bradstone provides a wide variety of training for its merchant partners and has recently updated its website to offer more comprehensive information and support.
Overall, we want to work in partnership. We want to provide the best service and the right information to our community. It’s really about involving each other if we want to be able to provide the best service. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2025
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