Construction and building materials firms have been urged to do more to raise investor awareness of the environment, despite being judged the most improved sector in a new survey.
The fifth Index of Corporate Environmental Engagement, published by Business in the Environment, found that contractor Laing was one of only five firms out of 184 to improve its environmental responsibility score by more than 30% since last year.

Materials group Blue Circle was the industry's highest-ranking firm. Others to do well were Aggregate Industries, RMC, Hanson, Berkeley Group, Wilson Bowden, Redrow, Amec and Taylor Woodrow.

Patrick Mallon, development director of Business in the Environment, said the industry was to be congratulated on the progress it had made. But he urged other construction sector firms to join the index and for firms to make investors appreciate the value of environmental responsibility for reducing risk and the cost of capital.

He said: "The City could do more but at the end of the day it is down to companies to show in their reporting to investors that environmental responsibility makes good business sense."

Business in the Environment said the industry must do more to enlist the support of suppliers and subcontractors. It targeted the industry after only 22.5% of eligible firms listed on the stock exchange entered the survey last year.

The index measures companies and sectors on criteria such as energy use, transport, waste and water consumption.