Page 18 - CFA_SG25

It’s everyone’s

responsibility

Alan McEwan, CFA president and F. Ball and Co. Ltd. technical
representative, on the need to work together to achieve
sustainability goals, and the importance of being proactive
when it comes to making changes.

veryone in the supply and there are already adhesives In this guide you will find lots
chain has a part to that make it easy to remove old of ideas to make your business
play in reducing the floorcoverings to allow for recycling. greener in relation to products,
Eenvironmental impact of Learning and development operations and recycling, with
the flooring industry. Fortunately, is also important for flooring examples from a number of
we are seeing individuals and contractors to have the skills and companies, and we take a look at
companies increasingly buying knowledge to ensure flooring some of the recent and upcoming
into it, both because it’s the right installations last as long as they legal developments. The idea is
thing to do and it makes business should, as well as an understanding that it serves as a tool for fostering
sense. Effecting real change of how their businesses can collaboration by promoting a shared
requires a collective effort. operate more sustainably. For this understanding of best practice
Contractors are looking to reason, the CFA and its members and standards and encouraging
buy more sustainable products, have already been involved in conversations about working
including floorcoverings, smoothing recent revisions of the Floorlaying together.
compounds and adhesives, in part Apprenticeship Standard and The More legislation compelling
driven by demand from customers. National Occupation Standards for companies to become more
18 They are also evaluating their Floorlaying. These include adding
waste management systems and green skills to training and sustainable is inevitable in the
coming years, along with greater
finding that it is more cost-effective assessment plans, so topics such societal pressure to minimise the
to recycle waste than send it to as sustainable waste disposal,
landfill. Some are even reducing environmental regulation and environmental impact of their
their carbon footprint by investing in carbon footprint management are business activities. For those at
electric or hybrid vehicles. covered at apprentice level and the beginning of their sustainability
Manufacturers are supporting assessed. journey, my advice would be to
these efforts by designing products The CFA has an important role in be proactive and take the lead in
with circularity principles in mind. sharing best practice with regard to adopting more environmentally
Many have established recycling sustainability and the environment, friendly practices now, rather than
schemes, such as Recofloor for vinyl as well as highlighting forthcoming have them forced on them when it
takeback and F. Ball’s recycling legislation and what it means for will be a lot more expensive. Access
scheme for plastic buckets and members, so they can prepare well to support and advice that comes
bottles. They are also adopting in advance of it coming into effect. with CFA membership, including in
renewable energy sources like We also need to bring together this guide, can be particularly helpful
solar panels and making the switch parties in the supply chain, including with taking the first steps.
to LED lighting. There has been a manufacturers, distributors and It is only by working together
steady move away from solvents contractors, and foster coordinated that we can effect the necessary
and VOCs over the past decade, collaboration to achieve objectives. changes and make a difference.

Contractors are looking to buy more
sustainable products, including

floorcoverings, smoothing compounds

and adhesives

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2024/25