CFA Specification & Sustainability guide is launched
AS I write this column I have just returned from two very busy days at Excel. This was my first year and I have to say that my initial impression was WOW!
If the quality of an exhibition can be defined by the quality of the exhibitors and the success by the number of visitors, Ecobuild ticked both these boxes. For a UK exhibition, it was by any measure BIG with a broad spectrum of quality companies from across construction including notable end users. In terms of visitor numbers, they hadn’t announced final figures as I put pen to paper, but I understand the organisers seemed confident they had broken the 50,000 mark.
But as far as I am concerned, Ecobuild ticked more than just those two very important boxes. The point is, well, it had a point! I often hear manufacturers, particularly in the austere times, debating the merits of exhibitions, exhibiting, visiting or indeed even ignoring an exhibition.
From possibly originally strong themes, some exhibitions have lost their way, or perhaps become stale, and can at best be considered a networking opportunity, at worst a poorly supported questionable use of time, perhaps trading on relationships, previous history, a degree of customer loyalty and habit.
I have already hinted at why I thought Ecobuild is different, which to be explicit is its theme of sustainability within construction. It gives a new and fresh topic for the construction industry to discuss and one that I truly believe has a point, particularly for flooring where in a glass half full view, we have a fantastic environmental and commercial opportunity to improve performance and potentially find new business.
Whilst undoubtedly there is a lot of ‘greenwash’ surrounding environmental issues and some shallow claims that are made across all sorts of materials, there is also a great deal of very real innovation and progress that was on display at Ecobuild. Whether flooring or otherwise related, there were some really interesting things to see.
If that isn’t enough, I think Ecobuild delivered one more thing. A common platform or shared interest across which the construction industry and flooring sector can communicate and do business. There was undoubtedly a buzz, probably because most people had something new to talk or learn about.
It is very interesting to note that that as well as the articles and editorial contained within the CFA Guide to Specification and Sustainability (launched at Ecobuild and available to download from both the homepage of the CFJ and CFA websites) the advertising almost all has an environmental or sustainability theme i.e. a wide range of contributors to that publication have embraced the topic.
The environmental credentials of a business can be measured in many ways. From how you manage water and power consumption, transport, products used or manufactured, waste management, working towards closed loop recycling and responsible resourcing of consumables to name but a few.
My point is that if you haven’t considered the environmental credentials of your business, now is a very good time to start and you may be surprised at what you already do. I would also suggest that this review should include giving EcoBuild very serious consideration, either as an exhibitor or visitor in 2012. If you do, I’ll see you there!
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