First BMF Net Zero carbon business champions announced

Among the first 14 champions from across the UK’s construction supply chain to declare their commitment to support C02nstructZero were four member companies from the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). The initial champions have been selected by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) for having demonstrated their commitment towards the sector’s drive to reducing carbon emissions in the delivery and operation of the built environment.

The four BMF Business Champions are ACO Technologies, APP Wholesale, Bradfords Building Supplies and Travis Perkins plc. These businesses have committed to share tangible evidence of their net zero carbon plans against the nine C02nstructZero principles, contribute to the C02nstructZero industry reporting process and work together to support companies in the sector to develop their own plans in support of the industry change programme. Here are some of the initiatives:

- ACO Technologies is designing their production processes and products to reduce embodied carbon as well as transport and installation carbons.

- APP Wholesale's initiatives include a 'Boiler Box' scheme to collect and recycle all end of life boilers for its customers, and fleet and delivery changes to reduce carbon emissions.

- Bradfords Building Supplies is investigating an integrated electric vehicle charging system for their fleet and their customers, as well as working with architects to help identify low carbon alternatives during the design process.

- Travis Perkins plc has set a target of net zero on scopes 1 and 2 by 2035 and is developing plans to use alternative fuels in existing vehicles and increase electric vehicles in their fleet.

The UK's Net Zero Business Champion and Chair of the C02nstructZero Advisory Board, Andrew Griffith MP, 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 emissions without changing how we build - and our business champions will set a fantastic example for others to follow."

CEO of the BMF, John Newcomb, 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."