The new vision, mission and values for the European Association of national builders’ merchants and manufacturers trade bodies was outlined during the event.
Sustainability and the reduction of packaging waste was high on the agenda of UFEMAT’s 63rd European Building Materials Conference attended by over 100 delegates representing builders’ merchants, building materials manufacturers from 12 different countries.
This year’s Conference took the theme “A Vision for Success” and John Newcomb, the current UFEMAT President and CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation, outlined the new vision, mission and values for the European Association of national builders’ merchants and manufacturers trade bodies.
The main business programme covered sustainable packaging and the importance of reducing waste, safety at work and vocational training, the benefits of adopting ETIM as the standard data model for transactions across the construction supply chain and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
Sustainable packaging was also the subject of this year’s UFEMAT Best Practice Award, which was won by Brick Manufacturer, Vandersanden, from a shortlist that included Knauf Insulation, Velux and The Pallet Loop.
With the Conference taking place in Dublin, delegates also visited a branch of builders’ merchant T.J. O’Mahoney and heard from Martin Markey, CEO of Hardware Association Ireland and Keith Giblin, CEO of the Allied Merchants Buying Association.
Markey analysed the Irish building market and saw a growth potential for merchants of ten per cent. Giblin highlighted the added value provided by buying groups both for members and suppliers.
The Conference concluded with a visit to the European HQ of Microsoft in Dublin, and a memorable dinner at Johnnie Fox’s, the highest and one of the oldest pubs in Ireland.
