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Action needed to avoid industry supply chain pitfalls
Construction companies must adopt a proactive and strategic approach to managing geopolitical volatility, embedding risk awareness at the highest levels of decision-making if they are to avoid potential supply chain disruptions, a report from business insurer QBE has advised. According to Trade tensions and
the construction sector: Navigating supply chain disruption, developed in partnership with Control Risks, recent tariffs on key construction materials such as steel, aluminium, timber and copper are already inflating input costs and delaying projects in North America and Europe. Key findings include: • Steel and aluminium are among the most exposed materials, with US tariffs on Canadian imports already pushing prices to multi-year highs. • Timber costs are surging due to US-Canada disputes, impacting UK contractors who rely on American imports. • Copper prices have spiked 29% in early 2025, driven by tariffs and sustained demand from electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. UK construction firms are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on imported aluminium and timber. This situation is compounded for British building contractors and property developers due to the UK’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and pressure to build with more environmentally sustainable materials. In addition, the sector continues to
grapple with a shortage of skilled labour, an imbalance uniquely impaired by reduced immigration to the UK post- Brexit, alongside an ageing workforce. Neil Fleming for QBE said: “The
confluence of global supply chain disruptions, rising material costs, labour shortages and sustainability goals presents a complex risk landscape for the UK construction sector. Proactively engaging with insurers and leveraging specialist solutions will help construction firms manage project continuity and financial stability in the face of some uncertainty this year, and into next.”
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86% of built environment professionals back standardised product LCAs as
confidence in ‘green claims’ falters A new sector-wide study reveals overwhelming support for clearer sustainability standards in the UK’s built environment – with 86% of professionals calling for mandatory Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) on products to cut through confusion and rebuild trust. The figure, published in the
‘Greenhushing: Silence is Costing Credibility’ report, highlights growing momentum for practical, measurable tools to support credible sustainability communication. Developed by Futurebuild, The Anti-Greenwash Charter, The Carbon Literacy Project and communications specialist, Hattrick, the findings from the first annual Green Claims Pulse Survey offer a detailed picture of where the industry stands – and where it wants to go. Alongside a demand for standardisation, the report, calling on over 3,000
professional and public voices (2,820 consumers and 277 respondents working within the built environment) shows that younger generations are ready to engage and expect businesses to lead. Two-thirds of 24-35 year olds believe the sector can build a greener future, compared to only 18% of over-45s. What’s more, 41% say they want businesses to lead and want to see evidence, not spin. “This is a turning point,” said Martin Hurn, Event Director at Futurebuild.
“We’re seeing a groundswell of optimism from younger people and a clear appetite across the industry for better tools, better training and more transparent communication.” The report warns that if organisations fail to talk about their progress, they risk losing relevance with future talent. Among industry leaders, a lack of transparency is also shown to be eroding trust and undermining industry partnerships. 52% have already switched or considered switching suppliers due to unclear claims. Two-thirds of professionals have also become more concerned about
greenwashing than they were 12 months ago, and 38% admit to dialling down public messaging on green progress for fear of backlash, reputational risk or data uncertainty, showing that many organisations are stuck between ambition and anxiety. “It’s not about having perfect answers. It’s about sharing the journey with
integrity,” said Malin Cunningham, Hattrick’s founder and certified Carbon Literacy Trainer. “When businesses explain what’s hard, what’s changing and what’s next – people listen. And when teams understand the issues, the terminology and that no business has got this all figured out yet, they feel more confident in sharing where they are at. That makes for authentic, powerful stories that stand up to scrutiny.” The research finds that just 18% of professionals feel “very confident” spotting
greenwashing and nearly half (44%) say that training gaps are stopping them from speaking up. Interestingly, when exploring what makes teams more confident in communicating their sustainability journey, the same themes come up. They attributed this to deeper knowledge, better data and third-party certification. There was also a clear call for standardisation. Not just of the language and
terminology, but also of how we benchmark the relevant environmental benefits of products. This is evident from the strong support for LCAs, which was one of the proposals put forward by the Government as part of the recent Construction Products Reform Green Paper 2025. Download the newly published report at
https://tinyurl.com/bdz7yes8
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