No doubt debates will continue to rage regarding the extent to which last month’s COP 26 moved action on climate change forward, but there is nonetheless plenty that businesses can and should be doing to play their part in improving the sustainability record of the flooring industry as a whole.
Amidst the plethora of initiatives, campaigns and programmes that emanate from Government and elsewhere, possibly the most relevant to our sector is the SME Climate Hub (businessclimatehub.org).
This is a UK Government initiative where businesses are encouraged to sign up and make a commitment to cut their carbon emissions in half by 2030 and to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050. Net zero means that you are putting no more carbon into the atmosphere than you are taking out of it. The SME Climate Hub provides a one-stop-shop to make a climate commitment and access best-in-class tools and resources.
Businesses are also encouraged to consider signing up for the CPA Decarbonisation Directory, which provides an opportunity for the sharing of best practice and for businesses to inform customers and the rest of the industry what they are doing to contribute to sustainability targets.
You will see that CFA is among the leading trade associations which are listed there. CFA continues to lead on sustainability issues in the flooring industry, in particular with its important report published earlier this year – ‘Zero Avoidable Waste in Flooring – towards a Circular Economy’. This is certainly the most significant such guide yet published and can be downloaded from our website at: cfa.org.uk/Contract-Flooring-Association-Information-and-Downloads.
The next major environmental publication from the CFA – in partnership with CFJ – will be the 2022 Sustainability Guide, which will be published in May next year, and will take into account all the developments which have taken place during this most momentous year in terms of climate change.
Finally The Construction Leadership Council is looking for Business Champions who will be role models in their commitment towards the sector’s drive to reduce carbon emissions in the delivery and operation of the built environment. It includes companies which span the entire industry, including major contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, materials suppliers, and specialist subcontractors. Between them, they are responsible for the delivery of billions of pounds of construction work across the UK.
If you can make a commitment to share tangible evidence of your net zero carbon plans against the nine CO2nstruct Zero priorities, contribute to the CO2nstruct Zero industry reporting process and work to support other companies in the sector to develop their own plans, then you should consider signing up as a CO2nstruct Zero Business Champion. Find out more at: www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/constructzero
CFA members will receive further updates on legislation and commercial opportunities that will undoubtably develop through sustainability policy and initiatives.
CFA office Christmas closure from end of day Thursday 23 December to
Tuesday 4 January 2022.
