SUSTAINABILITY IN THE FENCING INDUSTRY
Q&A with John Abernethie, Founder of Birkdale
Here, we speak to John Abernethie, Founder and Chairman Birkdale to learn more about the company and how its approach to sustainability has helped to shape its wide range of innovative products.
Can you start by giving us a bit of background about Birkdale?
Birkdale is the UK’s leading manufacturer of fencing and gate accessories. I began as a fencer and set out with the intention of creating products that would make fencers’ lives easier. Since 1982 we’ve been innovating, creating multiple different product lines from ironmongery to panels and posts – most notably our popular steel DuraPost® system, which we launched in 2018.
What are some of the environmental benefits of Birkdale’s products?
Sustainability is key to our business and so we look at every aspect of a fence’s life cycle for areas where we can reduce its environmental impact. For example, our high-quality products utilise long-lasting materials such as galvanised steel and composite to remove the need for regular replacements and cut down on the amount of waste sent to landfill. As a result, we guarantee our products for up to 25 years.
Our DuraPost® steel posts are also manufactured in the UK, which significantly reduces the emissions generated to transport them. When our products reach stockists, they can be sold loose, this cuts out the need for any wasteful packaging and ensures installers only need to buy the exact number of products they require.
The repair and efficient replacement of existing fencing is also key to managing resources and reducing unnecessary waste. Our DuraPost® system allows for panels to be easily swapped out without replacing the post. We also offer numerous repair options for existing fencing systems, such as the Repair Spur help to ensure that any fence’s serviceable life-span can be increased, again reducing the amount of waste the industry generates.
How has Birkdale evolved its product offering to make it more sustainable?
Incorporating recycled materials, and ensuring our products can also be recycled, has been key to making our offering more sustainable. Our DuraPost® fence posts utilise 50% recycled steel and can be melted down and reused at the end of their long lifespan. Similarly, our different composite panels all utilise varying combinations of materials to reduce their environmental impact. For example, DuraPost URBAN® composite panels are made from 60-70% recycled materials; this includes rice husks, a natural bi-product of food production, and recycled high-density polypropylene (HDPE).
How has Birkdale worked to reduce its carbon footprint as a business?
We have a sustainability committee that meets monthly to evaluate how the business is performing and then will discuss proactive steps we can take to make further improvements. These decisions are informed by annual measurements of our carbon emissions, taken in line with GHG protocol.
So far, we have implemented multiple measures to reduce our carbon footprint, such as utilising renewable energy generated via solar panels at both our warehouse and offices. We also offer several environmental schemes for our employees, including a Bike2Work scheme and a salary exchange system that enables them to switch to an electric car.
Is Birkdale currently involved in developing any new, sustainable products?
Absolutely. We are excited about our new Birkdale Terra Shield Pro® range of retaining solutions. These incorporate an earth retaining system and fence into one. The Smartwood boards that form part of the retaining solution are made from 100% recycled single-use plastic. This means we are able to repurpose waste that would otherwise be sent straight to landfill. Our Birkdale Sound Shield Pro® is another new acoustic fencing range that allows customers to tackle a very different form of pollution: sound pollution. Providing a 27dB noise reduction, these new panels have been tested and accredited by the Acoustic Research Centre at the University of Salford and use 70% PEFC certified redwood.
To find out more about Birkdale’s sustainability initiatives, go to www.birkdalesales.com/pages/sustainability, or to find out more about Birkdale’s Acoustic Fencing range, go to www.birkdalesales.com/commercial.
