The third annual State of Sustainability research report from the Builders Merchants Federation, conducted by strategic agency CMDi, reveals that sustainability is gaining traction but more must be done to increase customer engagement.
For instance, the report shows a growing number of merchant product ranges have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which enable building professionals to compare the environmental performance of different products to make more sustainable choices.
The proportion of merchants reporting that they stock products with EPDs has doubled in the past year, rising from 3 in 10 to 6 in 10 respondents. At the same time, the number of merchants unsure whether their products carry these sustainability credentials has fallen from 5 in 10 to 3 in 10.
However, the research also highlights that the top three barriers to adopting sustainable building materials were all customer-related, with trade customers having low awareness of the need for sustainable materials, expressing scepticism about sustainability and/or being unwilling to pay more for sustainable products.
Furthermore, half of merchants still don’t talk to customers about EPDs, and among merchants with annual turnovers below £50m, three-quarters don’t discuss EPDs with their customers.
The report therefore states that the single most important action the BMF could take to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable building materials is to support smaller merchants in shifting trade customer conversations away from lowest price and towards sustainability as a core value driver.
In response, the BMF is stepping up support with practical guidance through Working Group 1, which focuses on sustainability and environmental issues. Giles Bradford, Chair of Working Group 1 & Head of Sustainability at Bradfords Building Supplies, said: “Sustainable building materials are not a niche. They are the future. Every merchant who avoids EPD conversations today is choosing to fall behind tomorrow.”
BMF CEO John Newcomb continued: “The BMF will continue to provide members with the tools, clarity and confidence needed to stay competitive, compliant and future-ready.”
Dianne Lucas, Managing Director of strategic agency CMDi which undertook the latest research, added: “This sector has made real progress, but now we must protect it. Sustainability cannot become optional because market conditions are tough.
“Momentum is fragile and we cannot afford to lose the wins we’ve fought for.”
Download the report at www.bmf.org.uk, click on the ‘About’ tab, and select ‘Our Work – Building Sustainability’.
