As we move into a more eco-friendly society, tradespeople have had to adapt their services to meet the changing needs of consumers who are wanting to be more sustainable.
Recent research carried out by Ultra LEDs found that 57% of UK homeowners want to be more eco-friendly. This has led to tradespeople adapting their services to meet their customers’ needs.
It also revealed that more than four in five (80%) tradespeople agreed they could recycle more of their work waste, but don’t due to their lack of knowledge around rules and regulations.
In addition, 28% of traders say they would like more support from local authorities and 24% say they are actively trying new ways to reduce waste. Furthermore, one in five (20%) try to reuse any materials leftover from jobs, and 16% donate spare parts to charity.
The energy crisis has also made 73% of Brits worry about the energy performance of their home. This has led to more homeowners making the switch to LED lights and more tradespeople being called out on jobs to fit them.
From 2030, the government plans to ban all new sales of conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans. This shift has also led to more customers wanting electric vehicles to avoid increasing fuel prices and a 28% increase in jobs for electricians to fit charging points.
However, the research revealed that 35% of tradespeople found it difficult to move to electric vehicles due to the cost and lack of charging points. Despite this, the registration of commercial electric vehicles in the UK grew by 21% in January, as more tradespeople look to adapt.
This increase reflects the growing interest in the zero-emission van within trade spaces too. Online searches have also grown 50% year on year.
Ultralec, which will provide electric vehicle charging boxes for professional installers and tradespeople across the UK, aims to make the transition much easier too by installing more charge points.
The research has also shown which five industries are the most sustainable:
- Architecture and construction
- Consumer packaged goods
- Energy, process and utility
- Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical services
- Transportation and mobility
Discussing the results, Matthew Shaw, Head of Sales at Ultra LEDs says: “These insights are a confirmation of the direction and shift from consumers and professionals into a more sustainable way of living. Tradespeople have found it difficult to go green as quickly as they may like due to costs, availability of materials and having to use their own vehicles to get to jobs. However, it’s clear that there’s a real willingness to be as eco-friendly as possible.
“These numbers point to a clear opportunity to start looking at more sustainable practices and ways to be greener on the job. Contributing to a greener future is one of our top priorities, meeting the needs of tradespeople and consumers alike in their pursuit of an eco-friendlier lifestyle through great products.”
