The visit by Daisy Cooper MP was arranged by the BMF as part of its industry and parliament programme.

How the building materials’ supply chain is evolving to support environmental responsibility in construction - and responding to the net zero carbon challenge - was the focus of a constituency visit by Daisy Cooper MP last Friday.

The MP for St Albans visited Buttle’s, a 105-year old business based in the town, to see how it helps constituents to improve the thermal and energy performance of homes and workplaces.

Daisy Cooper, who is her Party’s Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson, was welcomed by Peter Buttle, Chairman, and Ian Church, Managing Director. Touring the branch, Cooper was shown examples of the sustainable materials and products available to Buttle’s customers in Hertfordshire and North London. She also heard from Shelby Williams, Branch Manager, how merchants and their SME customers have managed with higher raw material, energy, labour and transport costs.

Concluding her visit, Cooper said: “It was great to visit Buttle’s to learn how they are embracing low and zero-carbon initiatives, whilst continuing to serve their traditional house-building and property improvement markets”.

“It’s encouraging to find a well-known, local family-run business face the future and embrace not only carbon-neutral suppliers, but carbon-negative ones too.

“I want to thank Shelby and her team for helping local builders and DIY enthusiasts with their building and home improvement projects, and for giving me the opportunity to see for myself their contribution to not only St Alban’s economy, but also more widely around the county."

Cooper discussed how to prevent condensation, damp and mould in homes that cause respiratory problems and affect human health. During the Coalition Government, Lib Dem ministers were instrumental in efforts to tighten the Building Regulations to tackle indoor air quality, insulate more homes and improve living conditions.

Church said: “We were delighted to welcome Daisy Cooper and show her how Buttle’s has evolved over the one hundred and five years since we began in 1919. It is great to have our MP take an interest in local firms like ours and offering her insight and support to help businesses to succeed.

“Merchants ought to be aware that a shift is underway with a sharper focus on the environmental consequences of business, and the way we use resources in our supply chain in a more efficient manner, knowing that stricter targets and stronger regulation are likely in future.”

The visit was another arranged by the BMF as part of its industry and parliament programme. The aim is to show MPs the role, value and importance of merchants in delivering for their communities.