Opinion


The folly of manufacturing and installing artificial grass cannot carry on image
The folly of manufacturing and installing artificial grass cannot carry on
21 July, 2023
Reader Mark Canning responds to an article by Artificial Lawn Company that fought back against artificial lawn misinformation.
Builders' merchants critical in championing water and energy saving technologies image
Builders' merchants critical in championing water and energy saving technologies
Tom Reynolds, Chief Executive at the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, underscores builders’ merchants vital role in pushing for water and energy conservation.
Mitigating the effects of extreme heat image
Mitigating the effects of extreme heat
The hottest June since records began underlines the need for heat-combatting insulation, according to Mark Cooper, Actis UK and Ireland Sales Director.
Fighting against artificial lawn misinformation image
Fighting against artificial lawn misinformation
Now that Welsh Climate Change Minister Julie James has done a U-turn on banning artificial lawn, she continues to make erroneous statements about its effect on the environment. Sam Baylis, Surveyor and Sales Professional at Artificial Lawn Company, speaks out against the misrepresentation of a product and an industry.
 Working in the warmer weather? Be careful! image
Working in the warmer weather? Be careful!
Summer has arrived and with that comes a new set of challenges for those working outdoors in warm weather. What guidance can merchants pass on to customers working with concrete and cement during the summer season? Paul Lees, Head of Commercial at Tarmac, offers his advice.
The benefits of sustainable material sourcing image
The benefits of sustainable material sourcing
Jane Marsh, Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co, explains how to overcome common challenges in sustainable material procurement.
Meaningful change can lead to net zero image
Meaningful change can lead to net zero
Jane Marsh, Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co, explains how optimising procurement can help decarbonise the construction industry.
Why flat roofs sometimes have the edge on pitched roof design image
Why flat roofs sometimes have the edge on pitched roof design
James Wilinson, Design Team Manager at Gradient, examines the reasons to opt for a flat roof rather than a pitched roof design or pitched roof extension.
Laing O'Rourke to use low carbon concrete for all new projects image
Laing O'Rourke to use low carbon concrete for all new projects
Dura Products MD Steve Bennett believes the decision was admirable as reducing embodied carbon is key for the construction industry.
The future of heating in off gas grid homes image
The future of heating in off gas grid homes
Jonathan Hancock, Product Manager at NIBE Energy Systems, reviews the advantages of choosing ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) to hear off gas grid homes.
How inflation impacts the building industry image
How inflation impacts the building industry
Jane Marsh, Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co, highlights the key areas where inflation impacts clients, contractors and their supply chain contacts.
Sustainability in practice: The journey to Net Zero image
Sustainability in practice: The journey to Net Zero
Colin Donnelly, Health, Safety & Environmental Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, discusses the company’s journey towards Net Zero, and how organisations can implement more sustainable operations.
Home improvement market faces a challenging 2023 image
Home improvement market faces a challenging 2023
Allan Jeffrey, CEO at Ultra Decking, believes sharp decrease in consumer spending combined with rising costs will continue to impact profits.
The perfect alternative to plywood image
The perfect alternative to plywood
The shortage of birch plywood is a cause of concern in the timber industry, with many suppliers and contractors looking for alternative places to source from. Ireland-based engineered wood panel manufacturer MEDITE SMARTPLY may offer the perfect solution.
A year of opportunity image
A year of opportunity
NIBE Managing Director Phil Hurley highlights the key policy decisions needed for 2023 to accelerate decarbonisation and heat pump rollout across the country.
Trade retail's huge digital challenge image
Trade retail's huge digital challenge
Hannah Foley, Director of Digital, Wolseley Group, argues that the digital evolution of merchants is a mammoth task.
Energy security starts at home image
Energy security starts at home
Simon Storer, Chief Executive of Insulation Manufacturers Association, believes the best way to resolve our energy crisis is to insulate our homes.
Why home security is top of the wish list this Christmas image
Why home security is top of the wish list this Christmas
Tommy Geddes, Commercial Director for George Boyd, offers his advice on the pre-holiday upgrades or retrofits for fully functioning home security that builders merchants can pass onto their customers.
Seizing opportunities image
Seizing opportunities
Tom Reynolds, CEO of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, argues that opportunities still exist despite an economic black cloud.
Public shared spaces have a role to support communities image
Public shared spaces have a role to support communities
Russell Kirkham, Group Marketing Director at Marshalls, comments on the role public shared spaces and the built environment industry have to support individuals, businesses and communities in light of tax increases, public spending cuts and the rising cost of living.


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March 2024