The concrete sector is examining ways its various organisations can work together and better promote its products as sustainable.
Representatives of the British Precast Concrete Federation, the Concrete Centre, the British Cement Association and the Quarrying Products Association met together recently to discuss a range of issues, including whether the organisations should merge.
A concrete sector source told TTJ that a merger of the bodies was just one of a number of suggestions designed to promote more “joined-up thinking” in the concrete industry but stressed it was early days in the talks and a further workshop would be held in November.
The source said sustainability had become an important driver and the concrete industry was keen to be more co-ordinated and communicate its message of sustainability more effectively.
“There is a high degree of understanding in the sector about the need to co-operate and come up with solutions,” he said.
Timber Trade Federation president Neil Donaldson is spearheading a timber sector move to bring greater cohesion within the industry and recently met with heads of other organisations including wood for good, British Woodworking Federation and the UK Forest Products Association.
“The timber industry needs to maximise its environmental advantage and its potential with government. It must start to work more closely between the different trade associations,” he said.
He said for the industry to compete with rival materials it needed to pool its resources more effectively.
