The 2022 winner of WCoBM’s Caring for the Environment Award in the Merchant Member category was Bradfords Building Supplies.
This award acknowledges companies or individuals in the Livery whose efforts in areas of waste management, manufacturing processes, packaging or product development have resulted in greater sustainability or resource efficiency.
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Bradfords has adapted to external risks and opportunities throughout its 252-year history; its next challenge is reducing its impact on the environment.
To tackle this challenge, Bradfords has developed an environmental sustainability strategy to drive the business’ direction and influence its communities to support the environmental agenda. In parallel, embedding ESG into strategy is core to Bradfords approach, which will give the company the ability to test, set and hold itself accountable to targets for environmental sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
Bradford’s strategy has four core pillars:
- Engagement and education: Sustainability Champions scheme launched to drive advocacy around environmental sustainability; sustainability modules added to Bradfords Training Academy for all employees; ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ bi-annual event introduced along with a new website to inform, inspire and educate employees, the local community and key customers; Plans in place to upskill team members on domestic retrofit and methods to achieve better home energy efficiency.
- Products and services: Collaborating with BMF on a database to make environment information and credentials on all suppliers and their products readily available; further defining renewables product offer in partnership with local provider.
- Internal measures: Ambitions to electrify forklift fleet by 2025, with trials underway in branches now. Replacement of LGVs with latest Euro-6 variants ongoing; optimising deliveries to further reduce transport emissions; switched to renewable energy only suppliers; installing solar panels on the Avonmouth branch roof; saving electricity by replacing 300 light bulbs with energy efficient LEDs; replacing end-of-life fossil fuel heating systems with low carbon alternatives in current and planned stores; increasing use of recycled material in packaging; diverting more waste from landfill and making it easier for branches to recycle.
- Representation: Representing builders’ merchants in various industry and government boards and forums to ensure decisions which affect the sector are made with the best information; early adopters for industry campaigns such as CLC CO2nstruct Zero and Pallet Loop.
Achievements
- Sourcing renewable only electricity suppliers, saving 575 tonnes of GHG emissions
- 76% non-recycled waste diverted from landfill in 2021
- Emissions per ticket reduced by 4.9% in 2021
- One of the first 15 UK construction firms to sign up as a CLC CO2nstruct Zero business champion
Bradfords inaugural Building Sustainable Communities event was attended by 250 in person and 300+ online delegates, including employees, customers, suppliers and the local community.
What the judges said:
“Bradfords’ entry confirmed a comprehensive approach to embedding sustainability as a core focus in the business as well as engaging with relevant industry bodies and investing in education initiatives to build better awareness and understanding across teams, customers and the local community. Taking the lead in sustainability is clearly embedded in the business and they have shown a strong commitment and focus to ongoing improvement and savings in areas of transport, energy, heating, procurement and waste.”
