Highlighting the benefits to the business, Beesley & Fildes Commercial Director James Beesley discusses the urgent need for merchants to proactively invest in a more environmentally sustainable future.
Reducing environmental impact is a growing priority for all businesses and merchants are no exception. With the impact of climate change being felt across the world, sustainability is firmly under the spotlight — and this shift has translated into more customers seeking evidence of how our business is tackling the issue.
Incorporating sustainable practices can be easier said than done. As a broad term that is often open to interpretation, sustainability can mean different things to different businesses. At Beesley & Fildes, we have sought to make incremental changes across our branches through small and large investments — our focus has been on proactively reducing our carbon footprint by looking at a variety of factors, ranging from how we source our timber through to minimising waste and energy use across the business.
The power of solar
Our most recent sustainability investment has seen us transition to solar power at our Widnes depot. We chose to partner with a local business, TB Electrics, to design and install the solution which incorporates 600 solar panels.
The specialist team at TB Electrics visited our site to establish the most effective design by considering various elements such as the roof structure, electricity usage requirements, access and the existing electrical connections.
Based on this analysis, the solar panels were installed on the main building of our depot as its size, elevations and existing electrical infrastructure would maximise the amount of power generated. This means we can use the solar panels to run a substantial portion of the site, including our timber mill.
“With the impact of climate change being felt across the world, sustainability is firmly under the spotlight — and this shift has translated into more customers seeking evidence of how our business is tackling the issue.”
The impact of the solar solution was seen within just seven weeks of being installed. With a peak power of 252 kilowatts, the solar array generated 71,731 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. By the end of the year, the total is expected to reach 195,420 kWh and reduce our CO2 emissions by 39%.
As a result, we are significantly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels with the solar solution expected to save a total of 49 tonnes of CO2 annually — the equivalent to 9,378 trees and more than 1,000 long-haul flights.
Continuous improvement
Our solar panels investment is our largest to date and adds to several sustainability initiatives implemented within the last six years. In 2017, we built a £500,000 biomass plant at our Widnes branch which is enabling us to convert used timber pallets and offcuts into renewable energy. Instead of putting the waste timber into skips, we chip it and send directly to a storage area for the biomass fuel.
Biomass is a renewable energy source, generated from burning the timber, and means our plant can generate enough energy to provide heating and hot water for all six departments at our Widnes branch. In the summer, the chippings are stored for extra fuel in the winter or if we need more energy at other points in the year.
As well as helping us to cut carbon emissions, the biomass plant is saving our business around £1,000 per week in skip hire costs.
As part of our wider sustainability strategy, our staff wear branded uniforms made from recycled materials and we have invested £2m in our fleet. This has seen us introduce more environmentally-friendly trucks that comply with the clean air zones being implemented by the Government across the UK.
And within the next three years, our aim is to incorporate fully electric trucks into our fleet to provide even greater efficiency while eliminating emissions.
Recognising the impact of sustainability on purchasing decisions, we are also beginning to research more eco-friendly building products for our customers. Thanks to advances in technology, more sustainable options are coming to market, including bricks made from 100% recycled waste material. We are keen to explore alternatives such as this to help our customers and the wider construction industry meet their sustainability goals.
A holistic approach
In a world where sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity, the merchant industry must take a more proactive stance. Even small steps can drive impactful change, which will not only make a positive difference to the environment but operational efficiency.
A focus on continuous improvement, innovation and the changing demands of a more environmentally conscious market will help merchants of all sizes pave the way towards a greener, more sustainable future.
A version of this article appeared in the February edition of PBM.
Click or tap here to see a unique, drone-shot video of the Beesley & Fildes Widnes branch featuring the new solar panlels.
A family builders’ merchant business with a 200-year heritage and a broad portfolio of products, Beesley & Fildes combines 11 branch locations across Liverpool, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester and a national reach for online orders with a team of in-house product specialists and a “service-driven approach” to supporting customers.
The firm has recently acquired part of Silva Timber, which went into administration in October 2023, adding a specialist timber range to its portfolio and appointing two new employees. The deal sees Beesley & Fildes acquire a range of sustainably-sourced products from the Widnes-based business, including external cladding, coated wood, hardwood decking, slatted screen fencing and cedar shingles.
Former Silva Timber employees Andrea Rolt and Jenny Merritt have also joined Beesley & Fildes as specialist timber sales representatives. The duo had worked at Silva Timber for nine and seven years respectively.
Commercial Director James Beesley said: “As a local business with complementary products, Silva Timber presented an opportunity for us to significantly enhance our portfolio. For the first time, we can now offer a specialised timber range comprising the highest quality hard and soft woods.
“The arrival of Andrea and Jenny further strengthens our offer. With specialist expertise and experience, they are great assets to our growing team.”
Jenny added: “Both Andrea and I are very excited to have joined the Beesley & Fildes team. The chance to work for a long-established family business was an opportunity we could not pass up. Everyone has been really welcoming and we’re enjoying learning about all the products and services offered by the company.”
Andrea continued: “Having worked with specialised timber products for many years, our comprehensive knowledge will ensure customers make informed choices. From architects and developers through to landscapers and DIYers, we’re looking forward to helping a wide variety of people and seeing their projects come to fruition.”
The acquisition follows Beesley & Fildes recent £300,000 investment in a new timber treatment plant at its Chester branch. The fully automated plant can operate all year round and for the first time, enables the merchant to treat timbers in green and brown from its Chester site. With no need for manual equipment, output has tripled, and drying time has been reduced enabling treated timber to be collected on the same day.
