Hanson has become the UK’s biggest supplier of heavy building materials to receive the Carbon Trust Standard across all its business lines, achieving a 33 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from January 2007 until December 2009 .
The award follows three years of carbon monitoring and recognises the company’s achievements in measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions across all its operations ranging from cement works, brick factories and quarries to ready-mixed concrete and asphalt plants.
A key part of Hanson’s approach to achieving the accreditation was a change management programme for employees aimed at increasing energy awareness. It worked closely with the Carbon Trust on the project to develop a new culture aimed at empowering staff to identify and introduce changes to improve the sustainability of the company’s activities.
Other initiatives introduced include a combination of management controls and site-based changes, such as monitoring carbon emissions, and an opportunities database to highlight areas of further potential savings.
“We are delighted to have been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard as it demonstrates our commitment to the environment and is testament to the efforts of all our employees in reducing our carbon footprint,” said Martin Crow, head of sustainability at Hanson UK.
“We see the change management programme as an important step towards achieving our vision of sustainability. Additionally, the continual cycle of monitoring and reporting that we have introduced, followed by target actions and investment, ensures that Hanson will continue to minimise its carbon emissions.”
Harry Morrison, general manager of the Carbon Trust Standard said: “Being certified with the Carbon Trust Standard is proof that an organisation has taken genuine action to reduce its impact on climate change. We congratulate Hanson UK on this achievement.”
Other schemes introduced by Hanson UK to cut emissions include:
• Working with the Carbon Trust and suppliers to promote industry best practice and raise awareness across the construction sector
• Investment in energy efficient plant and processes, including the building of a new energy efficient £50 million brick factory at Measham, Leicestershire
• Greater use of renewable and recycled materials as fuel and raw materials.
Hanson UK’s approach to cutting carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency, along with its extensive range of other sustainable initiatives, is covered in its 2010 sustainability report. It provides stakeholders with an overview of the company’s achievements and successes and an update on how it is performing against future targets.
Highlights include:
• Responsible Sourcing of Materials standard (BES6001) gained across all concrete, aggregate, brick, block and floors, precast, paving and asphalt operations, covering nearly 300 production sites
• ISO 14001 accreditation gained for all production sites
• Reportable and lost time decreasing by 36 per cent
• Increased use of recycled materials in Hanson’s asphalt and ready-mixed concrete products
• Hanson became the first company in the UK to produce and lay low energy asphalt
A copy of the report can be downloaded from its web site at: www.hanson.com/uk.
