The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has signed up to the SME Climate Commitment and pledged to take action to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
The announcement comes the day after the publication of the United Nations’ landmark scientific report confirming the devastating impact of human activity on the earth’s climate and the immediate need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Climate change poses a threat to the economy, nature and society at large, and reducing carbon emissions is something businesses of every size must act upon. The BMF is supporting and promoting the Construction Leadership Council’s ConstructZero programme and encouraging our members to become Net Zero Business Champions. But it is just as important for us to take proactive steps to reduce our own carbon impact as well as supporting our members on their path to net zero. We encourage every member business, no matter what their size, to take action now.”
The BMF’s net zero project group has been meeting regularly since March to assess their current environmental impact and identify actions they can take to reduce carbon output, a statement added.
Simple first steps implemented by the BMF include increased use of LED and movement activated lighting, using paper rather than plastic wrappers to mail out its magazine and year books, moving from individual desk printers to larger shared printers, and using sustainable promotional materials for conferences and events.
The installation of electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, and changes to the current heating and ventilation systems were also being considered.