Sustainability and the reduction of packaging waste was high on the agenda at UFEMAT’s 63rd European Building Materials Conference, attended by over 100 delegates representing builders’ merchants, building materials manufacturers from 12 different countries.
Held recently in Dublin, this year’s Conference took the theme “A Vision for Success” and John Newcomb, the current UFEMAT President and CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation, outlined the new vision, mission and values for the European Association of national builders’ merchants and manufacturers trade bodies.
The main business programme covered sustainable packaging and the importance of reducing waste, safety at work and vocational training, the benefits of adopting ETIM as the standard data model for transactions across the construction supply chain and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
Sustainable packaging was also the subject of this year’s UFEMAT Best Practice Award, which was won by Brick Manufacturer, Vandersanden, from a shortlist that included Knauf Insulation, Velux and The Pallet Loop.
With the Conference taking place in Dublin, delegates also visited a branch of builders’ merchant T.J. O’Mahoney and heard from Martin Markey, CEO of Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) and Keith Giblin, CEO of the Allied Merchants Buying Association. Martin analysed the Irish building market and saw a growth potential for merchants of 10%, whilst Keith highlighted the added value provided by buying groups both for members and suppliers.
The Conference concluded with a visit to the European HQ of Microsoft in Dublin, and a memorable dinner at Johnnie Fox’s, the highest and one of the oldest pubs in Ireland.
Main image: John Newcomb, CEO of BMF and UFEMAT President (right) and Francis Huysman, MD of Valipac (left) gave the UFEMAT Best Practice Award to Jean-Pierre ‘Pirre’ Wuytack, CEO of Vandersanden (in the middle).
Founded in 1958, shortly after the establishment of the European Economic Community, UFEMAT brings together national trade bodies and associations representing builders’ merchants, wholesalers and building material manufacturers across Europe. Its aim is to provide a regular flow of communication and encourage best practice between member associations, as well as supporting their commercial and economic interests.
UFEMAT’s membership encompasses 16 major European countries and the total value of the construction sector within this geographic area exceeds €1trillion.
