Demand for sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials is on the rise, but sourcing these materials can present various challenges
Limited availability, cost considerations, and lack of awareness threaten the industry’s ability to increase the usage of sustainable materials – however, replacing materials with a negative environmental impact is a key step in construction’s journey towards a more sustainable future.
Balancing the need to source locally with the need to source sustainable materials
It can be hard to balance the need for more sustainable materials with the need to source materials locally. Contractors should take steps to identify local suppliers who can provide or produce sustainable materials and build long-term relationships with them.
Work with your regular suppliers to encourage them to adopt more sustainable options and check if any local associations can help promote the use of sustainable materials within the region.
In some cases, materials may need to be sourced from further afield to meet sustainability requirements. In this instance, it is important to assess the environmental impact of sourcing materials locally vs sourcing sustainable materials from further away.
Implementing strategies such as order consolidation to reduce the number of deliveries can minimise fuel consumption and emissions.
Ensuring sustainable material supply chain transparency
It can be challenging to verify sustainability claims and ensure transparency throughout the entire supply chain. Implementing supply chain traceability systems to track the origin or environmental impact of materials is one way to deal with this.
Suppliers should be encouraged to disclose information about their sourcing practices and environmental performance. Establishing clear communication channels can help manage expectations in terms of transparency.
The industry should consider developing standardised templates for reporting environmental data to help ensure consistency and comparability across different suppliers and materials. Engagement across the entire sector will help improve the clarity and accessibility of sustainability data.
Cost considerations when sourcing sustainable materials
Sustainable building materials may appear to be more expensive than their traditional counterparts. However, the financial expense must be balanced with the environmental need to adopt these products.
Despite high initial upfront costs, there are often long-term cost savings associated with sustainable materials due to factors like energy efficiency and durability.
As demand for sustainable building materials increases, more suppliers will begin offering them, and eventually, pricing should become more competitive.
Improving the availability of sustainable materials
Sustainable materials are not immune to the product availability issues that continue to affect the construction industry. However, with a proactive and collaborative approach, this issue can be overcome.
Building relationships with a wide range of suppliers is one way to mitigate this issue. Diversifying your sources reduces the likelihood of being in a situation where no suppliers you work with have the required products in stock.
Digital procurement solutions can also help contractors quickly find new suppliers that currently stock and can deliver the appropriate materials.
Increasing awareness of alternatives to traditional materials
Project stakeholders sometimes lack awareness or education on the topic of sustainable materials. By attending relevant training sessions and workshops, construction professionals can increase their knowledge of this subject and communicate it with their industry peers.
Contractors can also promote their successful use of sustainable construction materials to promote awareness and usage across the wider industry.
Addressing quality and performance concerns
There is a perception that some sustainable materials are inferior in comparison with their less environmentally-friendly counterparts. Before adopting new materials, they should be thoroughly tested and evaluated to ensure they meet quality standards.
Those manufacturing sustainable materials should take steps to demonstrate how they are ensuring quality and performance in their products.
By addressing the challenges of adopting sustainable construction materials, contractors and housebuilders can contribute towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly built environment.
