Architect Leads Moral Crusade Against Grenfell Firms
Television architect George Clarke has joined forces with Grenfell United to demand that homeowners and construction professionals boycott three companies heavily criticised in the official Grenfell Tower inquiry. The firms - Arconic, Kingspan and Celotex - supplied materials for the west London tower block where 72 people died in the 2017 fire.
Clarke, renowned for his Channel 4 series George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, lives near the disaster site and has personally committed to excluding products from these companies from all his projects. He's also urging his professional contacts to follow his lead in what he describes as a moral decision rather than waiting for potential criminal proceedings.
Systematic Dishonesty Exposed
The public inquiry findings published last year revealed damning evidence against all three companies. The report concluded they had demonstrated systematic dishonesty and engaged in deliberate strategies to manipulate testing processes and mislead the market about their products' fire safety.
Arconic, which manufactured the plastic-filled cladding panels identified as the primary cause of the fire's rapid spread, was found to have deliberately concealed crucial information about how its products reacted to fire.
Kingspan, responsible for approximately 5% of the combustible foam insulation used in Grenfell Tower, was criticised for deeply entrenched and persistent dishonesty driven by commercial motives with complete disregard for fire safety.
Celotex, which supplied most of the combustible insulation, was found to have operated a dishonest scheme to mislead customers and the wider construction industry about its products' performance.
Profits Continue Despite Damning Findings
Despite the catastrophic loss of life and scathing inquiry conclusions, all three companies continue to operate profitably. Recent accounts show Kingspan Insulation posted a pre-tax profit of £14.7 million, with similar financial success reported across the implicated firms since the tragedy.
Ed Daffarn from Grenfell United, a former resident who remarkably predicted the disaster in his blog before the fire, echoed Clarke's call for industry-wide action. He urged architects, procurement managers, landlords and even homeowners undertaking basic insulation projects to avoid these companies' products entirely.
The Metropolitan Police have indicated that charges relating to their criminal investigation are unlikely before late 2026 - nearly a decade after the fatal blaze. This lengthy timeline has prompted campaigners to seek alternative forms of accountability through public pressure and commercial exclusion.
All three companies maintain their denial of any wrongdoing. Arconic emphasises its cooperation with legal processes, Kingspan acknowledges historical failings it claims to have addressed, and Celotex says it has improved processes and marketing approaches.
Clarke expressed astonishment that many in the construction industry remain unaware of the companies' involvement or continue using their products despite the damning evidence. He emphasised that numerous alternative suppliers exist for both insulation and cladding materials, making the boycott entirely feasible for projects of all scales.
