BMF backs CO2nstruct Zero industry change programme

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has voiced its support for CO₂nstruct Zero, the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) response to the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.

CO₂nstruct Zero is the CLC’s cross industry change programme to drive carbon out of all parts of the construction supply chain by 2050. From manufacturing and design to construction and operation of assets, the programme sets out how the industry can together meet the Net Zero challenge.

The CLC believes that it has a critical role to play in bringing people together to consolidate collective actions and plans for the sector. It can share innovative solutions and set transparent goals and clear actions that everyone can help to achieve.

In addition to the CLC’s role in convening CO₂nstructZero, there are several changes to its core objectives that will be made to ensure that all the work complements the need to quickly de-carbonise the industry.

Firstly, the CLC will use its skills workstream to develop a ‘Net Zero supply chain’, recognising that as the industry develops, the skills need will evolve, driving requirements for the creation of high-value green tech jobs in construction.

At the same time, the Council will be working with its member trade bodies to change expectations and ambitions amongst UK construction clients and consumers.

Finally, the CLC will be sharing the industry’s performance data and reporting successes and failures each quarter to the government and the wider public.

It uses the Climate Change Committee’s sixth carbon budget to establish the priorities that frame the action plan and how the country will collectively measure and hold itself to account.

Considering the development, the BMF is launching its own Sustainability Forum to raise awareness amongst members and will be supporting the CO₂nstruct Zero message at three events this year – the BMF Members’ Day Conference in September, the BMF Parliamentary Reception in October and at the BMF All-Industry Conference in November.

BMF members will be encouraged to become business champions, sharing their approach to delivering on the nine priority areas encompassed within CO₂nstruct Zero. The priority areas are:

Transport

• Accelerating the shift of the construction workforce to zero emission vehicles and on-site plant
• Maximising use of modern methods of construction and improved on-site logistics, reducing waste and transport to sites
• Championing developments and infrastructure investments that both enable connectivity with low carbon modes of transport and design to incorporate readiness for zero emission vehicles.

Buildings

• Work with the government to deliver retrofitting to improve energy efficiency of the existing housing stock
• Scale up industry capability to deliver low carbon heat solutions in buildings, supporting heat pump deployment, trials of hydrogen heating systems and heat networks
• Enhancing the energy performance of new and existing buildings through higher operational energy efficiency standards and better building energy performance monitoring.

Construction activity

• Implementing carbon measurement, to support our construction projects in making quantifiable decisions to remove carbon
• Become world leaders in designing out carbon, developing the capability of our designers and construction professionals to develop designs in line with circular economy – reducing embedded and operational carbon, shifting commercial models to incentivise and reward measurable carbon reductions
• Support development of innovative low carbon materials (prioritising concrete and steel), as well as advancing low carbon solutions for manufacturing production processes and distribution.

John Newcomb, chief executive officer of the BMF, said: “Over the past 12 months, the construction industry demonstrated what can be achieved when it combined its efforts as a single force to tackle COVID-19. In the lead up to the COP26 Climate Change Conference in November, the industry has another great opportunity to work together and make real progress in the race for zero.

“As manufacturers and merchants, BMF members are in the vanguard of the supply chain and have a vital role to play in championing and delivering the changes necessary for success.”