Research highlights challenges in construction sector’s decarbonisation journey
The construction sector is keen to do its bit to support the quest for net zero but faces several challenges – from the cost and availability of materials to the levels of support available to companies – which often hamper its ability to deliver on its ambitions, according to the initial findings from new research.
The project, carried out through a partnership between Bradfords Building Supplies and the University of Plymouth, has explored the levels of willingness among those working across the sector to adopt low-carbon solutions in their practices.
The research was carried out by experts in marketing and sustainability from the University’s Plymouth Business School, with the partnership with Bradfords funded through the Net Zero Exchange programme led by the Sustainable Earth Institute.
They have developed several recommendations based on the work, and they were presented to industry representatives at a recent sector-wide event in Exeter.
Giles Bradford, Head of Sustainability at Bradfords Building Supplies, said: “The research really highlighted the unique role the building materials sector plays in the decarbonisation journey: we interact daily with manufacturers as well as those developing projects and the people on-site, building. We can see these challenges and barriers from all angles and be the knowledge hub to help drive forward regional and sector-wide change.”
Hanne Knight, Lecturer in Marketing, University of Plymouth Business School, said: “Given the scale of the climate crisis, it’s essential to unite practitioners and researchers to address challenges collaboratively. This project has been a pivotal step in understanding the barriers to adopting low-carbon solutions within the industry and identifying practical ways to overcome them. By working together, we can drive meaningful progress toward net-zero goals and make a tangible impact on one of the largest contributors to global emissions.”
Among the findings of the research were that the drivers for decarbonisation differ considerably between elements of the construction industry. For example, only 19% of builders’ merchants mentioned personal motivations (such as concerns over climate change) as a driver of their actions, as opposed to nearly 50% of the representatives of construction firms – including builders, architects and developers doing the same.
The interviews also identified differences in decision-making processes between architects and builders around the use of low-carbon products.
This highlighted the influence of other players, such as the building control teams within local authorities, in determining the products chosen by builders, and the different levels of importance given to product longevity by those designing the project and those implementing the designs.
