Less Than A Quarter Of UK Tradespeople Prioritise Sustainability

• According to a report by On The Tools, less than a quarter of UK tradespeople see sustainability as the most important factor influencing their purchasing going into 2024.
  
  
• More than two-thirds (68%) of the On The Tools Instagram community indicated that they had no intention of enhancing their sustainability efforts in the workplace.
  
  
• With 65% of UK consumers prioritising the environmental impact of their purchases (according to American Express), this underscores a big difference in priorities between the general public and those working in construction.1

On The Tools surveyed 1,390 UK tradespeople in Q4 of 2023 to gain valuable insight into UK tradespeople’s feelings and behaviour and published it in a report: TradeBrain Pulse. The results showed a fairly even distribution of opinions about sustainability going into 2024.

Just under a quarter of tradespeople have the needs of the planet at the forefront of their mind when it comes to purchasing tools and materials. Of the UK tradespeople who said they purchase building materials and/or tools, 24% rated sustainability as the most important factor influencing their purchasing.

Sustainability was ranked second overall: only 0.57% lower than the top-rated factor. This aligns with the monumental surge in consumer demand for environmentally friendly products; according to NatWest and IHS Markit, 52% of UK homeowners have plans for green home improvements over the next decade.2 

However, slightly more tradespeople (26.55%) rated sustainability as the least important factor when purchasing tools and/or materials in the TradeBrain Pulse report. When comparing this data with the previous quarter, there is a visible increase in tradespeople who position sustainability as least important (from 23%); tradespeople who thought sustainability was the most important had slightly decreased by 0.33%. Not only this, but an overwhelming 67.5% of the On The Tools community on Instagram indicated that they had no intention of enhancing their sustainability efforts in the workplace. With 65% of UK consumers prioritising the environmental impact of their purchases (according to American Express), this underscores a big difference in priorities between the general public and those working in construction.3

Despite the growing demand for eco-conscious products in the marketplace, the most important factor influencing the purchasing decisions of UK tradespeople going into 2024 is quality, according to the survey findings. It is possible that the post-covid climate could be a contributor to this behaviour; retaining clients is paramount, now more than ever. So, providing the best possible service with the highest quality products is likely one of the reasons why quality trumps sustainability going into 2024.

Amid a cost-of-living crisis and post-COVID challenges, UK tradespeople may not appear to prioritise sustainability, but this doesn't signal a lack of care. It instead highlights the complexity of their decision-making. The findings indicate a need for more accessible, widespread education about the long-term benefits of sustainable materials. Eliminating misconceptions about higher upfront costs could pave the way for a more sustainable approach amongst tradespeople. 

Fundamentally, while sustainability may not take precedence in the priorities of tradespeople in 2024, it is unquestionably significant, extending beyond purchasing materials and tools. Consequently, ongoing communication and education have the potential to foster a better balance between their practical needs and environmental consciousness.

1 https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2022/11/11/sustainability-still-top-priority-for-uk-consumers-despite-cost-of-living-crisis/

2 https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/news-room/press-releases/climate/2021/sep/natwest-greener-homes-attitude-tracker.html

3 https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2022/11/11/sustainability-still-top-priority-for-uk-consumers-despite-cost-of-living-crisis/

Source : On The Tools

Image : Via On The Tools

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