We will ensure continuous business and product innovation.
Our 2030 commitments
Our progress
We will reduce the carbon impact of our products, with a science-based target of 15% reduction from a 2016 baseline
Continuing development of our range of low carbon products; offering customers low carbon alternatives to meet their requirements
100% of our operational sites will have full IMS certification to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001 and BES 6001
100% of our sites fully comply with our internal IMS and all hold, or are working towards, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, and BES 6001 certification. Certification to ISO 45003 achieved. MQP working towards ISO 45001 in 2023. Hanson UK working towards PAS 2080 for certification in 2023
A new commitment for the average CO2 emissions associated with our cementitious products to be reduced to 525 kg/tonne by 2025 and less than 400 kg/tonne by 2030
Average CO2 emissions associated with our cementitious products was 406 kg/tonne, down 4.25% from 424 kg/tonne in 2019 and down 12.56% from the baseline year of 2016.
We continue to take a holistic approach to net zero, developing strategic carbon roadmaps across each product group to meet Science-based targets and help fulfil our share of the responsibility to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5°C.
We have a systematic and integrated approach to energy and carbon reductions through our accredited management systems. All our operations are certified to both ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 50001 Energy Management and work has also started on certification to the carbon management specification in infrastructure and buildings (PAS 2080), which will enhance our product offering and accelerate our net zero ambitions.
Investment in business and innovation
Over £75 million was invested in capital expenditure projects to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in 2022. These include:
Our new ready-mixed concrete plant in central Birmingham which incorporates solar panels to reduce the CO2 impact of operations and supplies all concrete needs including low carbon and specialist mixes.
Two dedicated mobile concrete plants at Abbey Mills and Chambers Wharf completed to support the Thames Tideway project. Additional investment was made in a mobile plant at Teesside for a major project for automobile manufacturer SsangYong.
Work continued at Pateley Bridge to install a new fixed modular primary crushing and screening plant as well as relocating a mothballed asphalt plant. The relocation will give access to the remaining reserves at the quarry and ensure continuity of supply across the region.
Work continued at Barton on a project to install a new stacking conveyor, rail crossing bridge, field conveyors and new dump hopper in the Western extension to allow continued operation of the site.
Work was completed on the bypass system upgrade at our Padeswood cement works, which allows for higher levels of alternative fuels to be used and is critical to our long-term strategy to reduce CO2.
Work was also commenced on the SRF (solid recovered fuel) to main burner project at Padeswood to increase the use of alternative fuels to over 80%. The project supports Hanson’s CO2 strategy and enables the reduction of CO2 emissions per tonne of clinker derived from the replacement of coal and with the content of biomass within the SRF material.
The new self-service customer portal Hub was our largest digitalisation launch. It replaces our myHanson portal with more features, greater customisation, and more detailed analytical data on how it is used. It also links into our delivery and order tracking app OnSite. Previously, customers would have to phone our customer service centre (CSC) to check details, but now they can do it online. As well as future and historical order data, Hub gives customisable access to account information including invoices, credits, and statements, with electronic proof of delivery being rolled out by business line.
We acquired Manchester-based A1 Services as part of our strategy to conserve the use of natural resources and our commitment to the circular economy.
The first of our ‘Let’s Talk Sustainability’ events took place in March 2022. It was a live, TV-quality webinar showcasing our latest sustainability initiatives and drew an online audience of almost 1,000 from across our industry and local government. Carbon capture and storage and fuel switching in our cement business were among the topics covered. The webinar was opened by CEO Simon Willis and the five-hour event featured presentations from senior figures in our business and a virtual panel discussion with four major customers. Our strong, clear decarbonisation messaging was aimed at legislators and local authority representatives as well as customers and specifiers.
We have already exceeded Heidelberg Material’s global commitment to reduce the average CO2 within cementitious products to 525 kg/tonne by 2025 through the use of lower carbon cements and Regen GGBS. The group has reduced its 2030 commitment to less than 400 kg/tonne, and we have almost achieved this already with an average CO2 within our cementitious products of 406 kg/tonne as a national average.
We have developed our EcoCrete range to make access to low carbon concrete easier. EcoCrete, EcoCrete Extra and EcoCrete Elite are available nationally and offer significant CO2 reductions over conventional concrete mixes.
Low carbon concrete was used to help transform Gatwick Airport station as part of Network Rail’s plans to upgrade and improve the experience of rail users. We supplied around 3,000m3 of low carbon concrete to main contractor Costain to refurbish the existing station concourse and build a second, bigger one which will create a new entrance into the airport. The concrete, which contains 70 per cent Regen GGBS provides the correct durability requirements while saving more than 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions over a standard concrete. Hanson was chosen as Costain’s materials supply partner due to its proven track record for innovation in lowering the carbon footprint of concrete within its supply chain. Read more
An innovative low-carbon concrete developed for HS2’s Euston station expansion is a UK first and helped win a collaboration award in the Skanska infrastructure supply chain awards. The mix uses Regen to replace 79 per cent of its traditional cement content, significantly reducing its carbon profile. This is a benchmark for carbon reduction for concrete used in permanent piling works and made it the most innovative low-carbon product for a permanent construction on this scale in the UK that we are aware of with around 55,000 cubic metres supplied from Kings Cross concrete plant.
We have completed an innovative and collaborative project to upgrade the A414 in Hertfordshire using durable, low carbon asphalt solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the scheme and provide a more resilient road. The work was carried out by our contracting team in partnership with designer Atkins on the A414 – between Park Street roundabout and the M1 junction 8 between St Albans and Hemel Hempstead – as part of the National Highways Area 6 & 8 framework agreement. Read more
Hanson has been working with Cumbria County Council on the Live Labs project for around two years. As part of the project, more Hanson is trialling Shell Bitumen LT R, which uses a chemically modified waste plastic to make it compatible with bitumen, without compromising performance. Read more
We have used an innovative low carbon asphalt to resurface the A30 Cutteridge to Alphington eastbound scheme near Exeter in Devon. The work is being carried out as part of our pavement category management framework agreement with National Highways. It is the first time we have trialled our CarbonLock asphalt containing polymer modified bitumen (PMB) bio-binders on the strategic road network in partnership with National Highways. Read more
Our longstanding partnership with Dorset Council UK has led to the widespread use of our ERA warm mix asphalt on the county’s roads. Warm mix asphalts can help cut the CO2 emissions associated with asphalt production by up to 15 per cent as they are produced and laid at lower temperatures, using 20 per cent less energy and delivering significant carbon savings.
Our work with Jewson to map out its journey to carbon reduction has led to us winning the inaugural Better Homes and Sustainability Support Award at the merchant’s event.
Hanson has become the first UK heavy building materials company to reach the standard for managing psychosocial risk in the workplace.
We have been awarded ISO 45003:2021, occupational health and safety management – psychological health and safety at work, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees.
It demonstrates that we have achieved the required standard for managing psychosocial risks and promoting wellbeing at work as part of an occupational health and safety management system.
In March 2023 we became one of the first companies in the UK to be certified to the new ISO 19443 standard, which seeks to drive nuclear safety culture, confirming our status as a leading supplier to the sector.
BS EN ISO 19443 is the new quality management standard for those supplying products and services that are important to nuclear safety. The system is based on ISO 9001, combining best practice in quality, and applying its principles to the nuclear sector.
