Four BMF member companies were amongst the first fourteen champions from across the UK’s construction supply chain to declare their commitment to support CO2nstructZero, the construction industry’s response to the climate emergency.
The initial cohort have been selected by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) having demonstrated their commitment towards the sector’s drive towards reducing carbon emissions in the delivery and operation of the built environment.
The four BMF Business Champions, ACO Technologies, APP Wholesale, Bradfords Building Supplies and Travis Perkins plc, have each committed to share tangible evidence of their net zero carbon plans against the nine CO2nstructZero principles, contribute to the CO2nstructZero industry reporting process and work together to support companies in the sector to develop their own plans in support of the industry change programme.
The other initial Business Champions are:
- Keltbray
- Mace
- Mid Group
- Multiplex
- Laing O’Rourke
- Arcadis
- AICO
- RLB
- Turner & Townsend
- Buro Happold
Andrew Griffith MP, the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion and Chair of the CO2nstructZero Advisory Board, said: “This is a hugely significant moment for the UK’s construction industry. As we look towards COP26 later this year, the whole sector must work together to drive real change. From global UK companies to the smallest local businesses, our business champions represent the best of the sector and will play a key role in helping to drive transformational change in how we deliver the built environment.
“We cannot deliver our ambitious national Net Zero Carbon ambitions without changing how we build – and our business champions will set a fantastic example for others to follow.”
Two of the initial BMF Business Champions, APP Wholesale and Bradfords Building Supplies were invited to speak at the launch event at UK Construction Week, today (6 May 2021).
Matthew Pierce, Marketing Director, from APP Wholesale, said: “APP Wholesale Ltd has signed up to be involved in CO2nstructZero because we supply a substantial proportion of the heating market and have an obligation to try and mitigate some of these activities. CO2nstructZero has come just at the right time when we are looking at these obligations and being part of a bigger movement is driving us to gain knowledge and having peers who we can emulate is amazing.”
Giles Bradford, Communications and Engagement Manager from Bradfords Building Supplies, said: “Bradfords has supported the communities in which we operate for over a quarter of a millennium. We see net zero as the next iteration in helping the sustainability of these, our, communities. The key CO2nstructZero priority for Bradfords is priority four: ‘supporting government to deliver retrofitting’. As a builders’ merchant our proximity to the RMI market, trades and homeowners lends itself to this.”
John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation, said: “We are extremely proud to see four BMF member companies, representing both merchants and manufacturers, at the forefront of the CLC’s net zero initiative. It is clear that every element within construction must consider how they operate if we are to achieve the zero carbon aim. At this early stage, it is important to have forward thinking champions as role models and I would encourage more companies in our sector to step forward. We would be happy to help them apply for Business Champion Status and share their experience.”
The CLC is seeking further net zero champions and is running an ongoing monthly recruitment drive for more companies to commit to CO2nstructZero. All business champions will work alongside the CLC and other major industry bodies, including the Builders Merchants Federation, to share innovations and best practice and act as promotors and role models.
