Let's Talk Sustainability - FAQ's

Yes we plan to include this, the challenge being how to best present the data. Concrete is dynamically configured to maximise the carbon savings and so a figure at the beginning of a contract may not be the same as at the close.  We do not want to publish confusing data but also want to publicise benefits when achieved. For this reason we may include a normalised value on our quotations or delivery tickets.

For deliveries within our direct control the CO₂ emissions would be included for fuel usage to the site and be included within our net zero commitments. Where we have a collect customer then the CO₂ would be included in their own CO₂ emissions; but this is where collaboration and knowledge sharing is important to adopt the technologies that ultimately result in net zero for the entire value chain

The 1.7 million refers to the scope 1 emissions of Hanson UK overall with around 90% coming from cement manufacture. Our scope 2 emissions are very low due to the purchasing contract we have in place with EDF and represent < 1% of our overall CO₂ emissions. Scope 3 at present is an estimate and we will be working this year to improve reporting. Currently we estimate our scope 3 emissions to be around 18% of our total emissions.

Hanson has a Zero Carbon for Business energy contract that guarantees our business is backed by zero carbon electricity, generated from nuclear power. This is therefore a zero-carbon energy source. It is however supplied through the grid. Hanson has a 12MW solar array at its Ketton cement works and is looking to install further solar capacity at other locations. Our commitment is to have a minimum of 5% of our overall energy supply from our own renewable installations.

We are able to share most things via our portal and have the ability to share more detailed information automatically using API.  However to address this we will shortly be including carbon values as standard on our documents.

Presently the emissions from our cement operations and several of our asphalt plants are independently verified by Lucideon, an external verification company. This ensures we fully comply with legal requirements from the UK government as enforced by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. Hanson goes beyond this however and produces a sustainability report on an annual basis which includes all our sustainability data. This data can be found here and the text associated with it is also externally and independently verified by Lucideon so our customers can be 100% confident that what we report is correct.

In 2002 the UK Government imposed a levy on all primary aggregate sales, including marine aggregates, a proportion of this fund is used to provide research aimed at minimising the effects of aggregate production and improved understanding of the complexity of interactions between human activities and the physical and biological environment. We continue to support the efforts that have been made by UK marine scientists to understand and protect marine resources for future generations.  Material is only dredged from strictly controlled licensed areas and every effort is taken to minimise our impact, including the recent £40million investment in new fuel-efficient dredgers.  The use of marine aggregates also has some benefits over land won materials, for example on the Olympic site the use of marine materials is estimated to have saved over 12,000 lorry movements on that project alone.

CCS is the last, but largest part of the jigsaw, as all the other levers we have to reduce CO₂ emissions will not address the process CO₂ arising from the calcination of the limestone in our raw materials which cannot be replaced.

The CO₂ is being stored in depleted gas reservoirs, there is around 30 years capacity in the “initial HyNet store” but there are more gas reservoirs available in Morecambe Bay which can be accessed.  We will be able to provide CO₂ for use after capture but this is not the same as it would depend on how it is used. For example use in carbonated drinks or food packaging would result in it being emitted, so usage needs to also result in permanent storage, such as the carbonation of concrete products to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.  The design of the capture plant includes combined heat and power - the CO₂ emitted from the fuel used will also be captured thus the overall project will be net zero.

The transport and storage operator are going through an extensive licencing process to ensure that risks of leakage is minimised through the full chain from the cement plant boundary to the subsea storage reservoir.  The geological store was filled with Natural gas for millions of years at very high pressures this was extracted over the past 50 years the CO₂ is replacing the methane extracted in the same reservoirs.  

We will be able to provide CO₂ for use after capture but this is not the same as it would depend on how it is used. For example use in carbonated drinks or food packaging would result in it being emitted, so usage needs to also result in permanent storage, such as the carbonation of concrete products to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels.  

In addition to its sustainability credentials, GGBS is used for the durability benefits it offers in concrete mixes. It is known and also recognised in the British standard for concrete, that natural pozzolans and calcined clays can offer similar durability benefits. Furthermore, both additions are also already incorporated in the cement standard as main constituents for cement. Hanson are therefore actively involved in developing these alternative sources of SCMs so that they can be made available to the market should GGBS supplies become constrained.

Concrete mixes made with GGBS additions have a slightly slower early strength development than mixes made with Portland cement only. However, as the paste in the concrete continues to hydrate, the strength of GGBS mixes continues to develop and depending on the GGBS level used already at 28-days the strength can be close  to that of pure Portland cement mixes.

We are promoting warm mix asphalt as its reduces carbon by up to 15% compared with hot mix asphalt. It use has been promoted through the Specification for Highway Works Clause 908, introduced in 2021, to permit its use without the need for applying for departures from 0 .lspecification. ()nma

Cold mix asphalt is typically restricted to foamed asphalt using cold or damp aggregates to produce stabilizing granular materials. Foamed asphalt is made of combination of recycled materials including reclaimed asphalt (RAP) with a foamed asphalt binder to produce a partially stabilized base material. There are current limitations in specifications such as CD 226 (TRL Report 611) which permit pavement designs containing cold recycled base material for design traffic of 30 msa or less. 

We’re seeing a gradual move away from hot mix asphalt (above 140oC) to warm mix (100oC-140oC) asphalt with the next step, half-warm asphalt (65oC-100oC).

As technology develops and specifications permit, we anticipate future growth in the use of cold mix asphalt.