The Concrete Industry

Sustainability Performance Report

1st Report
 Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report

Contents
Part 1 – Concrete Industry Sustainability Part 2 – Report on the 14 performance indicators
Performance Report
Introduction 3 Sustainable consumption and production 12
About concrete 4 – Performance indicators 1-5
Bringing the industry together 7 Climate change and energy 16
– Performance indicators 6-8
Concrete sustainability highlights Natural resources and enhancing the environment 18
Sustainable consumption and production 8 – Performance indicators 9-11
Climate change and energy 9 Creating sustainable communities 20
Natural resource protection and enhancing the environment 10 – Performance indicators 12-14
Creating sustainable communities 11

Stakeholder interests & References 22

Forum for the Future has been involved in working with the Engaging stakeholders is more and more important to the
concrete industry for more than seven years – first through the continued success of the industry, in its local communities
British Cement Association and then through The Concrete and with its customers. Appendix A shows just how fast the
Centre and the Industry’s Sustainable Construction Forum. industry needs to move to keep pace with the demands of its
This has turned out to be an extremely rewarding external audiences.
collaboration, and all of us in the Forum are genuinely
impressed at the progress that has been made and the quality These pressures are not unique to the concrete industry. But
of leadership shown. they are particularly compelling. Direct competitors have had
to find common cause in co-developing a new vision and
Concrete is a crucially important construction material, vital signing up to a set of cross-industry commitments that will
to every economy in the world. Much of the economic put the industry as a whole in a far better position when the
development of the last fifteen years or so has been economy picks up again.
underpinned by increases in the use of concrete, particularly
in countries like China and India. The truth is that sustainability And we all know what that will mean. When the economy
doesn’t get much tougher than in concrete – in terms of recovers, we will see rapidly rising energy prices, as in 2008;
Jonathon Porritt even tougher regulatory pressures on waste and air pollution,
emissions of greenhouse gases from cement works and other
Founder Director, key parts of the industry, as well as local air pollution, waste, and communities demanding higher standards in terms of
Forum for the Future and health and safety issues. “good neighbour” practices.

On health and safety, the record is undoubtedly a good one Climate change will be driving unprecedented innovation and
(see page 20). On environmental impacts, despite the fact that radical decarbonisation strategies across the entire economy,
there have been substantial improvements in both energy with the likelihood of even more ambitious targets for
efficiency and waste reduction, these “decoupling” initiatives construction and infrastructure.
in the UK (more economic output for less environmental and
That’s what this Performance Report is all about.
We are genuinely social impact) have not been able to compensate for the huge
Benchmarking current performance, improving efficiencies
growth in turnover worldwide.
today whilst “future-proofing” the industry for tomorrow. We
impressed at the Those boom days are now gone. From one perspective, that wholeheartedly welcome that kind of leadership – and look
forward to keeping the pressure on over the next few years!
progress that has makes the industry’s sustainability challenge all the more
daunting, as commercial pressures bite even deeper. But from
been made and another, it provides the perfect opportunity for the industry
not just to get the basics sorted (driving efficiency harder
the quality of than ever to keep costs down) but to pursue a lot of the more
innovative approaches that have just started to work their way
leadership shown. through the industry.

Industry leaders have no illusions as to how tough this is

going to be. Even the task of getting all this non-financial data
measured, checked and properly reported has been a huge
Front cover picture: one. These pages speak to a lot of work done to bring together
New Street Square, London. The building has a
concrete frame with post-tensioned concrete various sectors of the industry and to stimulate progress.
floors, which provide thermal mass.

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 1st Report

Our vision is that, by 2012, the UK

concrete industry will be recognised as the
leader in sustainable construction, by taking a dynamic
role in delivering a sustainable built environment in a manner that is
profitable, socially responsible and functions within environmental limits.

Part 1 – Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report

Introduction

Concrete is one of the most versatile and widely used building The approach adopted by the industry is aligned with the UK
materials in the world. It plays a vital role in many aspects of everyday Government’s four sustainable development priorities: Sustainable
life – from the buildings we work and live in, to the roads, bridges Consumption and Production, Climate Change and Energy, Natural
and railways that transport us. It is a key element in the social and Resource Protection and Enhancing the Environment, and Creating
economic well being of us all. Sustainable Communities. Under these priorities we have identified 14
sustainability principles, which have been translated into performance
Throughout its lifecycle, concrete can deliver real sustainability indicators.
benefits, but it also has some negative impacts. Sustainability is a
key issue for the UK concrete industry. We are tackling the industry’s Part 1 of this report provides an overview of the industry and its
own performance head on, enhancing positive attributes and sustainability performance. Part 2 gives information on each of our 14
managing and reducing other impacts through technical innovation performance indicators in more detail.
and concrete design. The industry is committed to behaving in a
responsible way to improve sustainability performance and to deliver Developing a comprehensive sustainable development reporting
sustainable construction solutions. framework across our industry, with nine sectors and thousands
of operating sites, involved considerable commitment. The report
The UK concrete industry is made up of nine sectors, comprising provides the latest available information2. Historically, companies and
hundreds of companies. Traditionally, sector trade bodies and sectors have reported individually. Although this will continue, work
companies have undertaken stakeholder engagement, improvement is now in progress to allow consistent reporting across the industry in
programmes and reported sustainability performance1 separately. the future.
These sectors have now come together and committed to a
comprehensive cross-industry sustainability strategy which has been
developed in collaboration with stakeholders.

This report, produced by the Concrete Industry Sustainable

Construction Forum (see page 7), describes the sustainability
performance of the UK concrete industry, the current action being
taken and its future sustainability strategy. The aim is to help all those
with an interest in the supply and use of concrete to develop a better
understanding of the industry, its sustainability, and the proactive
steps that are being taken to demonstrate its performance.

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 Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report

Admixtures
Aggregates
Material Cement

supply Fly ash

Marine aggregates
Ground granulated blastfurnace slag
Reinforcement

Manufacturing
concrete Mortar
Precast concrete
Ready-mixed concrete

Use of
concrete
Housing
Infrastructure
Non-domestic buildings

About concrete
In 2007, around 23.5 million cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete • T he reuse, recycling and disposal of concrete from end of life
and 38 million tonnes of precast concrete products were produced. buildings and structures.
Depending on its use, different methods of manufacture are practised
and a variety of raw materials used. This means that there are a We have considered all of these stages in the life cycle when
wide range of sustainability issues to consider throughout concrete’s developing our sustainable construction strategy.
life cycle:

• The production and transport of raw materials

• T he long term management of our operations and the restoration of

our mineral extraction sites

• The production and transport of ready-mixed concrete and precast

concrete products

• The process of constructing concrete buildings and other structures

• The operational performance of concrete buildings and structures

during use

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 1st Report

• A
 pproximately 40% of aggregates quarried and • B
 oth ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS),
dredged in the UK are used for making concrete a by-product of iron manufacture, and fly ash, a
by-product of electricity generation, are used as
• A
 ggregates for concrete are sourced locally cementitious materials
throughout the UK from hundreds of highly
regulated operations • R
 einforcing bar for concrete construction produced
in the UK is manufactured from recycled steel
• T here were 14 cement plants in the UK in 2007
supplying 90% of the country’s needs • A
 dmixtures are added to concrete to optimise its
performance.

• C
 oncrete is a mixture of aggregates, water and • T he local nature of ready-mixed concrete supply is
cementitious materials illustrated by the average delivery distance of
eight km
• M
 ost concrete is supplied as either ready-mixed or
as precast products • T here are around 800 precast concrete factories
throughout the UK.
• N
 early 1,000 ready-mixed concrete plants
throughout the country supply quality assured
concrete

• C
 oncrete is used in virtually every type of • T he flexibility that concrete provides means solutions
construction, from landscaping gardens, to renewing can be found for most building and civil engineering
our cities to building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link challenges

• T he availability and flexibility of ready-mixed • T he use of concrete is becoming increasingly

concrete enables designers and builders to produce important in helping society adapt to the
a huge variety of buildings and structures to meet consequences of climate change
clients’ requirements
• C
 oncrete is extremely robust and has a very long life,
• T he precast sector produces a vast variety of but is also fully recyclable at the end of life as a raw
products ranging from standard size blocks and tiles material for future construction needs.
to custom made bridge beams weighing hundreds
of tonnes

The contribution of concrete to sustainable

buildings and structures
Concrete is extremely versatile, providing designers and builders
with the ability to produce aesthetic and functional buildings
and structures.
The use of concrete can offer significant sustainability benefits in the
life cycle of buildings and structures. Its thermal mass is highly efficient
in reducing the energy needed to heat and cool buildings, and it
also allows a high level of air tightness. Concrete is highly durable
and so needs minimal maintenance and can thus reduce whole life
costs. Furthermore, the long life of the material means that concrete
structures are appropriate for change of use.
Concrete’s mass and damping qualities allow good acoustic
performance and minimise movement, reducing floor vibration. This is
particularly advantageous for high density accommodation. Concrete
is non-combustible and has a slow rate of heat transfer which makes it
a highly effective barrier to the spread of fire. The nature of the material
also ensures that it is resilient to flood damage.

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 Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report

In July 2008, following 18 months of extensive stakeholder consultation, major

companies and trade associations in the industry committed to the overarching
‘Sustainable Construction Strategy for the UK Concrete Industry’ and to taking a
leading role in sustainable construction.

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 1st Report

Governance
Structure
CISCF Project
Management Group

Concrete Industry Sustainable

Construction Forum (CISCF)

Working Group 1 Working Group 2 Working Group 3 Working Group 4

Sustainability performance LCA data and CO2 Sustainability Skills Sustainable Solutions
report and indicators reduction-related R&D and Tools

Strategy Strategy Strategy Strategy

Commitments 1 & 2 Commitments 3 & 5 Commitment 4 Commitments 6, 7 & 8

Bringing the industry together

As a core part of the strategy we have developed a vision for the
concrete industry in 2012. To achieve this we have signed up to four The industry will use the reporting
strategic objectives. To deliver these objectives the industry has made
eight commitments which are set out on the certificate opposite. The structures as a basis for seeking
first commitment is to launch an annual sustainability performance
report for the UK concrete industry which will provide clarity to our
further performance improvements
stakeholders about our sustainability performance.
in the sustainability of concrete.
Part 2 of this report gives further details of the industry’s performance
and the contribution of the various sectors of the industry. The
industry will work to ensure that the performance indicators continue
to be appropriate and reflect the needs of both industry and external
stakeholders.

Governance structure
The concrete industry has taken steps to ensure successful
implementation of the strategy by establishing the Concrete Industry
Sustainable Construction Forum (CISCF) and associated Working
Groups, as shown in the diagram above.

The industry is now committed to an annual reporting cycle. The

quality of data and analysis will improve as this process continues to
address areas where sectors are collecting data based on different
methodologies. The industry will use the reporting structures
as a basis for seeking further performance improvements in the
sustainability of concrete.

The working groups are also active on Responsible Sourcing and

Representatives of the organisations present at the signing of the sustainable
Stakeholder Engagement.
construction strategy declaration (as shown opposite).

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 Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report

Concrete sustainability highlights

Our collective approach to sustainable construction builds upon initiatives and
examples of good practice which have been implemented by companies and
trade bodies. Some important elements of industry sustainability highlighted by
stakeholders are set out below within the framework of the UK Government’s
four sustainable development priorities.

The concrete sector and responsible

1. Sustainable consumption sourcing
and production The concrete industry has been at the forefront of the construction
• T he Sustainable Construction Strategy has been signed industry in the development of responsible sourcing standards.
up to by all sectors of the concrete industry and by major
Responsible sourcing of materials provides a holistic approach to
manufacturers/suppliers.
managing a product from the point at which a material is mined or
•  ommitment to annual reporting has been made against 14
C harvested in its raw state through manufacture and processing until its
performance indicators. final disposal as waste with no further value.
• Innovative products have been developed to support
sustainable construction. The concrete industry is the first to issue a guidance document on
compliance with the BRE Responsible Sourcing standard BES 6001. The
• T he use of quality and environmental management systems
production of this guidance provides a basis for the implementation of
are widespread throughout the industry.
this standard in the concrete industry and our supply chain.
• F irst industry to develop Responsible Sourcing Guidance
to accompany the Building Research Establishment’s Responsible sourcing is demonstrated through an ethos of supply
(BRE) Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of chain management and product stewardship and encompasses social,
Construction Products (BES 6001). economic and environmental dimensions. It addresses aspects such
as stakeholder engagement, labour practices and the management of
supply chains serving materials sectors upstream of the manufacturer.

The launch of the concrete sector guidance took place at an event

with BRE on 18 December 2008, at the Building Centre, London.
The guidance can be downloaded from
www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk

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 1st Report

The UK concrete industry is committed to

playing a full part in helping the Government
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least
80% between 1990 and 2050.

During cement production about 60% of the CO2 emissions arise

2. Climate change and energy from the chemical reaction which takes place in the kiln. The other
40% come from the combustion of fuels. The cement sector CO2
• Concrete is used to construct highly energy efficient performance is closely regulated under the EU Emissions Trading
buildings. Its use can reduce the energy needed for heating Scheme and the UK’s Climate Change Agreements. Through a
and cooling by up to 15% per annum, with an associated significant programme of investment in more energy efficient
reduction in CO2 emissions. technologies and in using biomass and other waste-derived fuels, the
UK cement sector has reduced its CO2 emissions by 27% since 1990.
• CO2 emissions from cement production have been reduced Consequently, in 2007 CO2 emissions were over 3.7 million tonnes lower
by over 27% since 1990. than in 1990.
• Reductions in specific energy consumption from cement Further work is in progress but a long term possibility for dealing with
and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) the remaining emissions could rest with carbon capture and storage
manufacture have surpassed their voluntary reduction target (CCS). The cement industry is undertaking research on CCS solutions
for energy efficiency through climate change agreements. but the technology is in its infancy and will take some years to develop.
• The average transport distance from ready-mixed concrete The UK concrete industry has also been successful in reducing the
plants to the construction site is just eight km. embodied CO2 of concrete through the extensive use of GGBS and fly
ash as cementitious components in the concrete mix and through the
use of factory-made composite cements. The use of these materials can
Carbon management lower the embodied CO2 of a concrete mix by up to 40%.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant greenhouse gas for the
concrete industry. CO2 emissions arise from concrete production and Although much progress has now been made by sector trade bodies
its transport to the construction site. Intelligent concrete design can to measure CO2 performance, with the exception of the cement sector
significantly reduce the CO2 emitted throughout the life of a building. this information does not date back to 1990. Therefore, to explore
the overall performance of the precast and ready-mixed concrete
CO2 emissions from buildings represent 40% of total CO2 emissions in industry Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has been used5. The
the EU, according to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive CO2emissions from the sites manufacturing precast and ready-mixed
(2002/91/EC). Concrete, due to its high thermal mass, can reduce concrete have reduced by 6.4% between 1990 and 2006. The 27%
heating energy consumption by 2 – 15%. In addition, intelligent reduction in CO2 emissions achieved by the cement sector compares
combinations of heating, natural ventilation, solar shading and very favourably with the reductions achieved by the UK economy as a
building design can reduce energy use for cooling and related CO2 whole, and by the manufacturing sector.
emissions by up to 50%3. The UK concrete industry recognises its key
role in delivering innovative construction solutions and in providing
information to enable the development of CO2 efficient designs of
buildings and other infrastructure.
% change in CO2 emissions 1990 - 2006
In the UK, the embodied CO2 associated with the production and
0% -0.3%
transport of an average tonne of concrete is 95kg CO2.
-5% -6%
All UK manufacturing industries

When the total CO2 emitted by the UK concrete industry is considered, -10% Total UK CO2 emissions (includes
emissions from aviation and shipping)
cement is estimated to account for around 85% of these emissions4. -15%
Precast and ready-mixed concrete
The rest arises from the production and transport of the other raw -20%
-19%
materials and from the mixing of concrete and its transport to the -25%
Cement production sites
(comparison to 2007)
construction site. -27%
-30%

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 Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report

When available close to site, recycled aggregates can improve the sustainability
of concrete. However, the increased CO2 generated by transporting recycled
aggregates over longer distances by road can result in a less sustainable solution
than the use of locally available primary aggregates.

by-products of industrial processes such as iron and steel making and other
3. Natural resource protection and extractive processes. The fine sand arising from china clay extraction in
Cornwall and Devon, for example, is used for concrete manufacture.
enhancing the environment
• C
 oncrete manufacture uses by-products from other industries, Twenty-five per cent of the total Great Britain aggregates market, including
such as fly ash from power stations, GGBS from the steel concrete manufacture and other aggregates uses, is supplied from recycled
industry and recycled and secondary aggregates. and secondary sources. This is over three times higher than the recycling
rate elsewhere in Europe.
• 1 00% of the reinforcement bar made in the UK is from
recycled scrap.
• T he concrete industry is working hard to reduce water
“Aggregates are plentiful in the UK. Friends
consumption and increase the recycling of water. of the Earth estimated that minerals
• T he cement industry uses over 1.3 million tonnes of waste from
other industries. such as aggregates would last hundreds
• T he industry is working to enhance biodiversity at its
operations. The UK’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) of thousands of years at current rates of
include 700 current and ex-mineral extraction sites.
extraction in the UK.” 7
Resource use and recycling in the concrete and Cement: In 2007 GB cement production was 11.6 million tonnes, while
aggregates sectors overall market demand was 15.8 million tonnes. The difference was
accounted for by imports (1.4 million tonnes) and other cementitious
Great Britain produced 23.5 million cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete
materials (2.8 million tonnes). These other cementitious materials, ground
and around 38 million tonnes of concrete products in 2007. A smaller
granulated blastfurnace slag and fly ash, accounted for 18% of
volume of concrete was also mixed on construction sites.
total supply.
Aggregates: it is estimated that 80 million tonnes of aggregates were
The production of cement required over 16.6 million tonnes of chalk,
used for manufacturing concrete in 2007. Virtually all of these aggregates
limestone, sand, clay, and shale. In addition, over one million tonnes of
were sourced domestically. In addition, an estimated five million tonnes of
waste-derived materials were used in cement manufacture to supplement
recycled and secondary aggregates were used to make concrete.
the use of these primary materials, and 315,000 tonnes of processed waste
Recycled materials are principally sourced from the demolition of buildings materials were used as fuel in cement manufacture.
and structures. Research indicates that virtually all “hard” demolition
materials are reused in aggregates markets6. Secondary materials are

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 1st Report

Concrete in buildings can provide much needed capacity to

reduce the need to heat a building in winter and cool it in
the summer.

Thermal mass
4. Creating sustainable communities Fabric energy storage (FES) or thermal mass provided by exposed
concrete can make buildings more comfortable to live in, with lower
• S ustainable Communities: Building for the Future – government plan external energy inputs and therefore lower costs, as shown above in the
launched in 2003. BREEAM rated ‘Excellent’ Innovate Green Office, Leeds.
• A
 sustainable community is a place where people want to live and As we face rising temperatures and the subsequent demand to
work now and in the future, that will improve everyone’s quality of life. provide comfortable working and living conditions without using
• G
 ood design and selection of the right materials can make buildings air-conditioning, more and more design teams are incorporating the use
more sustainable throughout their whole life. of thermal mass into their structures.
• T he civic realm has not always used concrete in the best ways The dynamic thermal response of high thermal mass buildings with
possible – it is up to the industry to show what can be achieved. exposed concrete is characterised by a slow response to changes in
ambient conditions and the ability to reduce peak temperatures. This is
particularly beneficial during the summer, when the concrete absorbs
Creating sustainable communities with internal heat gains during the day, helping to prevent overheating.
concrete at the core
For the best result and the greatest thermal mass or FES effect, concrete
Sustainable communities need durable, adaptable places for people needs to be left exposed. Floor coverings, false ceilings and raised floors
to live and work in a future that looks very uncertain, both in terms of can severely limit the concrete’s ability to absorb and release heat within
population demands and climatic and environmental conditions. While the occupied space.
we may never see drought conditions that contributed to the ferocity of
the wild fires in Australia in February 2009, we can expect to see changes The industry has a responsibility to better inform customers, designers
in temperatures, especially in our summers, over the course of the and the users about the benefits of exposed concrete, so that our
21st century. material can be used as more than the strengthening element of the
building. So much more can be delivered in order to make communities
We therefore need to design and build sustainable communities that more sustainable if the thermal mass of concrete is recognised and then
provide protection from the elements, adaptability during change and used to make a positive contribution to creating high quality internal
security to occupants. All of these goals can be achieved through the conditions for occupants throughout the life of a building. The positive
intelligent use of concrete – maximising its basic characteristics – in our contribution from concrete in terms of space heating and cooling can
vertical and horizontal structures. pay back many times over the impacts from creating the material in the
first place.

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 Sustainable consumption and production

Part 2 – Report on performance indicators

Developing a comprehensive sustainable development reporting framework
across our industry, with nine sectors and thousands of operating sites,
involved considerable commitment. Historically companies and sectors have
reported individually. Work is now in progress to allow consistent reporting
across the industry in future. Unless otherwise stated all data in this report is
for 2007.

Widespread use of environmental management systems

Three parts of the industry have achieved 100% coverage of certified
environmental management systems across their production sites (cement,
fly ash and GGBS).

Performance Indicator 1: Sector % of production sites

covered by a certified
Environmental management systems Environmental Management
System (such as ISO 14001, EMAS
Have systems in place to operate in a legal and sustainable and for SMEs, BS8555 2003)
manner with continual performance improvements.
Materials supply sectors
As the concrete industry is UK-based, it operates in a highly regulated
environment to exacting standards. Environmental management Aggregate 61% (654 of 1072)8
systems (EMS) are used extensively by the industry. The majority of Fly ash 100% (18 of 18)
trade body members have introduced voluntary EMS systems that go
GGBS 100% (5 of 5)
beyond legal requirements and are publicly certified.
Admixtures 86% (6 of 7)
Different parts of the supply chain face different environmental issues
– consistent and robust systems have been implemented to address Cement 100% (14 of 14)
these issues. Concrete product sectors
The industry will continue to expand implementation of certified EMS Ready-mixed 51% (estimate)
and introduce new Responsible Sourcing Standards to demonstrate Precast 81% of production tonnnage9
sustainable supply chain management and product stewardship.

The concrete industry has been at the

forefront of the construction industry
in the development of Responsible
Sourcing. It is the first to issue a
guidance document on Responsible
Sourcing Standards in compliance
with BRE standard BES 6001.

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 Sustainable consumption and production

In addition to reducing production waste some companies have introduced

take-back schemes to increase recycling rates from construction sites.

Minimising landfill
The concrete industry uses more by-products and secondary materials from
other industries than the industry produces in waste.
Performance Indicator 2:
Waste minimisation The industry will continue to exemplify good practice on waste
minimisation and diversion from landfill.
Manage all waste streams effectively and minimise waste
disposed to landfill. Individual companies are already working with their clients to reduce
waste produced on construction sites. The industry will investigate
The industry plays an important part in the UK’s objective to reduce ways of working with client representative bodies to minimise waste
waste sent to landfill. onsite. This will support the UK Government Strategy for Sustainable
Construction target of reducing construction waste by 50% by 2012.
Much of the production waste produced in ready-mixed and precast
concrete production plants is reused onsite.

Sector kg of waste to landfill as a

The cement sector used 1.3 million
proportion of each sector’s
production output
tonnes of waste as raw materials or
Aggregate Unavailable in 2007
fuels in 2007. Against that figure it
Fly ash 0
disposed of less than 83,000 tonnes of
GGBS <1kg/t process residues, making it a net user
Admixtures <1kg/t of waste.
Cement 8.5kg/t

Ready-mixed <10kg/t (25kg/m3) estimate

Precast 4.9kg/t

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 Sustainable consumption and production

Investing to reduce emissions Being transparent and

All ready-mixed concrete plants accountable
have dust suppression systems in The sustainable construction
place at the point of manufacture. strategy has been developed
through extensive stakeholder
Performance Indicator 3: Emissions engagement with sector trade
(excluding CO2) bodies and focus groups with a
Minimise emissions to air and water from the production
process (excluding CO2).
range of clients. In addition, Forum
The industry is actively seeking to minimise emissions through a
for the Future has independently
significant programme of investment. The nature of emissions will vary
across the concrete supply chain. In the cement sector the major focus
reviewed the principles and
has been on successfully reducing emissions such as sulphur dioxide,
oxides of nitrogen and dust. In concrete production, issues such as
performance indicators.
dust suppression, noise pollution and light pollution have been the
main focus of emission reduction efforts.

In 2007 there were three convictions relating to emissions (two from Performance Indicator 4: Stakeholder
the aggregates sector10 and one from the cement sector11).
engagement
There are a number of different indicator definitions currently used by
different parts of the industry. For instance, the cement manufacturers Communicate and work constructively with the supply chain
have collected an array of emissions data, and have set a number of and other key national stakeholders (see separate ‘Local
improvement targets12. A common data collection methodology is Community’ principle for local stakeholder engagement).
being developed to ensure comparable data can be presented in
This collaboration of the nine production sectors making up the
future reports.
concrete industry is a good example of engaging a supply chain to
make a greater impact in improving sustainability performance.
All bulk cements are stored in silos with At a concrete industry level, we will focus on engaging with the
dust suppression systems. stakeholder organisations representing our construction industry
clients and advisors. We will also engage with government
departments, political parties, trade unions, European institutions
and other groups with an interest in sustainable development.
This will enable joint issues to be identified and actions developed
to help achieve the objectives of the UK Government Sustainable
Construction strategy.

We will engage with and report annually to our stakeholders.

Individual companies and their representative bodies will also

continue to carry out their own stakeholder engagement and report
their performance in a transparent manner1.

As the concrete industry, we will

continue to engage with the users of
our materials and report annually to all
our stakeholders.

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 Sustainable consumption and production

Developing sustainable products and services

The industry contributes to sustainable construction through innovative
new products and services, such as low embodied CO2 products, paving that
absorbs harmful atmospheric emissions and take-back and recycling schemes
for concrete block waste from construction sites.
Performance Indicator 5: Quality and Sector % of production sites
performance covered by a certified
ISO 9001 quality
Continue to develop materials and products that contribute management system
to a sustainable built environment.
Materials supply sectors
Quality standards are a well established part of the concrete
production supply chain. The industry has produced best practice Aggregate 63% (estimate)
guidance in this area and will continue working to improve coverage Fly ash 100% (18 of 18)
of quality standards, where required.
GGBS 100% (5 of 5)
Increasingly, individual companies are improving the sustainability
performance of individual products. There are examples of innovation Admixtures 100% (7 of 7)
in products with low embodied carbon, high recycled material content
and materials that absorb and ‘lock-in’ harmful atmospheric emissions. Cement 100% (14 of 14)

The industry will continue working to develop an additional Concrete product sectors
performance indicator to measure its contribution to sustainable
Ready-mixed 100%13 (950 of 950)
construction through innovation.

The industry produces a wide range of resources to support designers, Precast 80% of production tonnage14
specifiers and all users of our products.

Fly ash, GGBS, cement, admixtures and ready-mixed concrete have all achieved
100% coverage for Quality Standards.
Performance data is supplied to support the use of industry standards and tools
such as the Green Guide, BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

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 Climate change and energy

Improving energy efficiency Reducing CO2 emissions associated

Energy used during the lifetime with production
operation of the building accounts CO2 emissions from cement
for about 90% of total energy production have reduced by over
consumption15. Using concrete can 27%, from a 1990 baseline. This
equates to a reduction in annual CO2
reduce the energy needed for heating
emissions of over 3.7 million tonnes.
and cooling by 15% per annum.

Performance Indicator 6: Energy efficiency Performance Indicator 7: CO2 emissions

Use energy efficiently in production. (production)
Both the cement and GGBS parts of the industry have already Minimise CO2 emissions associated with the production of
exceeded their voluntary reduction target for energy efficiency materials and products.
through climate change agreements. The cement sector improved by
28% compared to a target of 23% and the GGBS sector improved by
15% compared to a target of 12%. Sector CO2 emissions as a
proportion of each sector’s
The aggregates and precast concrete sectors also publish energy production output
efficiency performance indicators.
Aggregate 4.0 kg/t24
For this and some subsequent indicators, ready-mixed concrete figures
are shown on a per metre cubed and per tonne basis to meet the Fly ash 4.0 kg/t24
requirements of different stakeholder groups16.
GGBS 52 kg/t24
The industry will continue to look for energy efficiency improvements
and is promoting good practice. Admixtures 380 kg/t25

The industry will investigate the practicality of developing a Cement 819 kg/t26
performance indicator to measure the energy-efficiency savings made
Ready-Mixed 1.8 kg/t (4.3 kg/m3)24
by utilising the thermal mass of concrete in energy efficient buildings.
Precast 13.5 kg/t24
Sector Energy used in production
as a proportion of each
sector’s production output The figures in the above table relate to CO2 emissions as they were
measured and reported by each sector in 2007. Within each sector
Aggregate 12.7 kWh/t17 there is a different mix of energy sources used.

Fly ash 9.3 kWh/t18 The figure of 819kg CO2/t of cement refers to the direct CO2 emissions
from cement manufacture in 2007. The industry has also calculated
GGBS 238 kWh/t19 more detailed carbon footprint information for cementitious materials,
including the indirect CO2 emissions associated with electricity and
Admixtures 2500 kWh/t20 transport. Accordingly, the embodied CO2 of Portland cement CEM I
and of an average cement are 930 kg/t and 880kg/t respectively. This
Cement 1194 kWh/t21
industry research has calculated that the embodied CO2 emissions
Ready-mixed 4.6 kWh/t (10.9kWh/m3) 22 associated with the production and transport of an average tonne of
concrete in the UK is 95kg. This and more information on embodied
Precast 52.9 kWh/t23 CO2 and concrete is available at: www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk.

Approximately 60% of the CO2 associated with the production

Innovations like self-compacting of cement comes from the chemical reactions that are part of
transforming raw materials, such as limestone, into Portland cement.
concrete mean that vibration is no The remainder comes from combustion of the fuels used in the
process. The cement sector also has a target of reducing direct CO2
longer needed to ensure compaction. emissions by a further 5.4% per tonne of cement by 2015 (from
2007 levels).
This means that the process is quieter,
safer and significantly reduces energy
consumption.
16
 Climate change and energy

Significant progress has been made in reducing the overall CO2

emitted during cement production by reducing the fossil fuel
Providing a locally sourced material
consumption through investment in more efficient processes and The local supply network for concrete
by using alternatives to virgin fossil fuels. Further work is in progress
in this area but a long term possibility for dealing with the remaining means travel distances are short
emissions potentially rests with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The cement industry is undertaking research on CCS solutions but and the fuel used (and associated
the technology is in its infancy and will take some years to develop.
Concrete is able to react with CO2 in the atmosphere, a process called
CO2 emissions) during haulage is
recarbonation, and so can recover a proportion of the CO2 emitted
during production thus reducing its overall carbon footprint.
minimised.
The cement industry is a participant in the EU Emissions Trading
Scheme (EU ETS) and has fully met its obligations to date. The third
Performance Indicator 8: CO2 emissions
phase of EU ETS will start in 2013 with a severe tightening of the (transport)
overall emissions cap. A remaining concern is that unless overseas
manufacturers face the same carbon costs as EU manufacturers, Minimise CO2 emissions associated with the transportation
production and jobs may simply move overseas. Government level of materials and products.
discussions to protect against this possibility are underway.
The industry sources its materials from local suppliers, with almost
100% of aggregates coming from within the country. The average
delivery distance of ready-mixed concrete to construction sites is eight
km, and just over 150km for precast concrete products.

A significant amount of material is delivered using rail, ship and barge,

leading to lower CO2 emissions.

The cement sector has calculated that (based on 2004/2005) the CO2
emissions relating to cement transport were less than 1% of total CO2
emissions associated with cement production and transport.

Sector Average delivery Average load

distance by mode

Material supply sectors

Aggregate Road - 35 km 21.3 t
Rail - 144 km 1726 t
Inland barge - 49 km 256 t
Concrete product sectors
Ready-mixed Road - 8.3 km 14.3 t (6m3)
Precast Road - 155 km 28 t

The data available to report fully on transport CO2 emissions

requires more development. We are working to include this in future
reports.

17
 Natural resources and enhancing the environment

Recycling for the most sustainable solution

Recycled aggregates can improve the sustainability of concrete when the
aggregates are available close to the manufacturing site.

Performance Indicator 9: The industry will continue to work to increase our levels of
waste-derived fuel use as a proportion of total fuel. This will
Materials efficiency provide a valuable continuing solution for disposal of waste from
other industries. It is a cost effective approach to achieving
Use all primary, secondary and recycled materials in the improved sustainability performance for the industry and also the
most efficient manner. wider economy.
The concrete industry used around 100 million tonnes of raw The cement sector aims for a 50% replacement of fossil fuels by
materials in 2007. Action is being taken to substitute primary materials fuel comprising waste material by 2020 as part of its Environment
by secondary and recycled materials. However, more recycled Agency Sector Plan. BCA member companies now use a wide range
content does not always lead to the most sustainable solution, for of waste-derived fuels. In 2007, the amount of replacement of fossil
example due to increased road transport distances. When available fuels consumed reached 19%, of which four per cent was classed as
close to site, recycled aggregates can improve the sustainability of biomass. Substitute liquid fuels, produced from the by-products of
concrete. However, the increased CO2 generated by transporting solvent recycling, have been used for 15 years in the UK. In the same
recycled aggregates over longer distances by road can result in a period, the industry has introduced tyres – used both chipped and
less sustainable solution than the use of locally available primary whole – meat and bone meal, sewage sludge pellets and paper and
aggregates. Bulk supply of recycled or secondary materials by rail or plastics as energy sources. Whatever the source material, the criteria
water can be a sustainable option. The proportion of recycled remain the same: fuels must be compatible with cement manufacture,
materials in the GB aggregates supply chain, currently at 25%, is the while their use must be both safe and have no negative impact on
highest in Europe. the environment.

Secondary/recycled Other cementitious materials (fly ash and GGBS – both of which are
aggregates by-products from other industrial processes) account for around 18%
of total cementitious consumption.
Total GB aggregates sales (2007) 285 mt
of which:
Cementitious
materials
Primary aggregates 214 mt
Total cementitious consumption 15.8 mt
Secondary/recycled materials 71 mt
GB cement production 11.6 mt
Secondary/recycled share 25%
Cement imports 1.4 mt
The concrete industry also plays a significant role in solving the waste
disposal challenges of other industries. For example, the cement sector Other cementitious materials 2.8 mt
now uses over 315,000 tonnes of processed waste materials as fuel and
Other cementitious materials share 18%
over one million tonnes of waste as raw materials. This approximate
20% replacement of fossil fuels with waste-derived materials equates
to a saving of over 330,000 tonnes of coal. The aggregate sector also The industry will continue to develop and use more additional
used 23 million litres of recovered fuel oil. cementitious materials to reduce the amount of primary materials
used and reduce embodied CO2.

In total, millions of tonnes of

industrial by-products are used in the
manufacture of concrete with no effect
on performance other than a reduction
in environmental impact.

18
 Natural resources and enhancing the environment

Improving monitoring and Contributing to biodiversity,

management of water geodiversity and heritage
Water is a limited resource. The Seven hundred Sites of Special
concrete industry is making efforts to Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the UK
increase efficiency and recycling. are current and ex-mineral
extraction sites.
Performance Indicator 10: Water
Use water efficiently and minimise demand on mains water. Performance Indicator 11: Site stewardship
Be responsible stewards of sites used, by recognising the importance
Water is used both as a constituent material and as part of the
of national heritage, biodiversity and geodiversity during use and
production process, for example in cooling plant at cement works,
after the end of life of each site.
to clean out ready-mixed trucks and in recovering aggregates from
returned concrete. Biodiversity is a key element of the concrete industry’s sustainable
construction strategy at the mineral extraction phase.
Sector Mains water used as a Numerous bird species breed in quarries and pits including the Sand
proportion of each sector’s Martin, Ringed Plover, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel and Raven. Leaving
production output areas of suitable habitat undisturbed during the breeding season can
encourage these birds to nest in non-operational areas. In this way,
Aggregate 48 I/t
they can be encouraged to nest where they will be undisturbed by
Fly ash 0 quarry operations and other human activity.

GGBS 11 I/t Archaeologists recognise that mineral working often provides them
with valuable opportunities to recover and investigate evidence of
Admixtures 650 I/t the past.

Cement 45 I/t Aggregate and cement companies have ongoing programmes for the
restoration of their quarries in consultation with local communities,
Ready-mixed 59 l/t (140 l/m3) which has resulted in a broad range of developments such as
housing, recreation and leisure activities, shopping centres, wildlife
Precast 110 I/t
conservation, education centres and cycle paths.
Total mains water use by the industry is estimated at just over 12 The industry will continue to promote good practice on the
million cubic metres28. stewardship of its production sites. The minerals industry is actively
supporting the Nature After Minerals initiative of RSPB and Natural
The industry is working to spread good practice in minimising
England, designed to encourage greater awareness and understanding
mains water use. Further indicators are being developed to measure
of the opportunities for habitat creation.
groundwater use.

19
 Creating sustainable communities

Reducing incidents towards a zero target

All parties recognise that even a single injury is unacceptable. Significant
progress has been made to reduce incidents, but more must be done to
achieve a target of zero.

Performance Indicator 12: Health and safety

QPA Hard Target 2009
Operate in a responsible manner to protect the health and
HSE reportable injuries (direct employees) all activities
safety of employees, contractors and visitors.
600
Significant improvements have already been made: 500

• R
 eportable injuries down 75% (1999 – 2007) 400
– Quarry Products Association 300
• L ost time incidents down 59% (2003 – 2007) 200
– British Cement Association 100
• R
 eportable injuries down 65% (2000 – 2007) 0
– British Precast Concrete Targets 2010 scheme 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Much of this improvement has been achieved through identifying and

disseminating best practice. For example, the safequarry.com website
is one element of a package of resources that encourages the sharing
of health and safety knowledge across the quarrying and quarry
products industry. “Sharing Good Practice” is the new name for a series The quarrying sector has set a further
of hard copy guides that contain examples of best practice. The first of
these also contained a DVD featuring over 60 video clips presenting target of reducing Lost Time Incidents
innovations in health and safety.
by 50% by 2014 (from a 2009 baseline).
Sector Reportable Absolute
injuries per number
100,000 direct
employees per
year

Material supply sectors

Aggregate 549 77

Fly ash 0 0

GGBS 1030 2

Admixtures 0 0

Cement 74229 24

Concrete product sectors

Ready-mixed 636 36

Precast 731 219

The industry is currently developing the indicator for health and safety
to include contractors and visitors, and continues to work towards
zero incidents.

The quarrying sector is making progress in achieving its ‘hard target’ of

a 50% reduction in reportable injuries by 2009 (from 2004). There were
152 reportable injuries recorded by all members of the QPA in 2007,
down 75% since 1999.

20
 Creating sustainable communities

Providing jobs and training Engaging with the local community

our workforce Community involvement has been a
Over 50,000 people are directly major part of the concrete industry
employed in the UK concrete for many years. Liaison with local
industry, often supporting rural communities minimises conflict and
economies. seeks to maximise benefits to the
wider community.
Performance Indicator 13: Employment
and skills
Continue to support sustainable communities by Performance Indicator 14: Local community
providing employment and economic activity and
recognise the importance of developing a skilled and Positively engage with the local community.
competent workforce. There are around 3,200 quarries and concrete production sites in the
The industry provides employment opportunities throughout the UK, UK. Most sites are on industrial parks or physically shielded from local
often in rural locations where limited alternatives exist. communities. However, some sites are close to neighbours.

The concrete industry has a majority of production sites certified to It is acknowledged that, as with any other production industry, there
BS EN ISO 9001. This standard provides an audited process to ensure is potential for these local communities to be adversely affected by
each member of staff has the relevant qualifications for their current impacts associated with production, such as transport movements
activities and provides a framework for developing competence for and noise pollution, if these impacts are not managed in a
future career progression. sensitive manner.

The UK Government Strategy for Sustainable Construction includes The industry is very active in working with local communities to
a target for the ‘development of an action plan for driving a training maintain good working relations. The industry applies the most
culture in the building products sector’ 30. The industry will continue to appropriate community engagement tools including liaison groups,
develop activities in skills development in line with the action plan as newsletters, forums and websites.
it emerges.
Sector Indicator - % of relevant
Sector Number of % of employees production sites with
employees and covered by community liaison activities
contractors certified ISO
9001/ ISO 14001/ Materials supply sectors
OHSAS 18001 55% (307 of 554 sites
systems (Training Aggregate
responding)35
& Competence)
Fly ash 100% (18 of 18)36
Material supply sectors
Cement 100% (14 of 14)37
36.686 direct
Aggregate and 49,674 61%32 Concrete product sectors
indirect31
Ready-mixed Unavailable in 2007
Fly ash 50 direct 100%
GGBS 19033 direct 100% 32% (39 of 122 sites
Precast
responding)38
Not available for
Admixtures 100%
2007
The industry will continue to develop proactive communications with
3,233 direct and local communities. We would like to encourage feedback, and ask for
Cement 100%
15,000 indirect34 suggestions on how the measurement and reporting of this activity
should be developed.
Concrete product sectors

Ready-mixed 2,800 direct 100%13

Precast 20,666 direct 80%

The industry is working to develop a performance indicator for

skills that supports the achievement of the relevant Government
Sustainable Construction targets. Indicators such as the proportion
of employees with NVQ II or equivalent qualifications are currently
under consideration.

21
 Appendix A – Stakeholder interest, our current activity and future plans

UK Government
Sustainability Principle Stakeholder Interest What we are doing What we will do next
‘Shared Priority’

Are firms managing the environmental Environmental management systems are used
Our focus will now be to maximise the
implications of their businesses in a widely in the concrete industry. We have also been
Environmental Management Systems number of companies that build Responsible
responsible manner? Are products closely involved with developments of new
Sourcing into the way they do business
sourced legally? Responsible Sourcing Standards

We will increase the amount of by-products

We use more by-products and secondary materials and secondary materials we use and work
Too much waste is going to landfill from
Waste Minimisation from other industries than we produce (as wastes to reduce the amount of waste both we and
construction sites and industry in general
or by-products) ourselves construction sites produce that
goes to landfill

The cement sector has worked closely with the The cement sector has established a new
Concern about pollution to the air from
Environment Agency to reduce harmful emissions sector plan to 2020 which will lead to further
cement kilns
and has exceeded reduction targets reductions in emissions

Sustainable Work as trade organisations to develop

Concern about noise, light and dust Management systems include monitoring of
best practice with regulatory authorities and
Consumption Emissions (excluding CO2) pollution and discharges to watercourses discharges and action plans to ensure compliance
then disseminate best practice throughout
from concrete production and continual improvement
and Production the industry

The quarrying industry has promoted the use

Concern about amount of traffic to and Continue to review modes of transport used,
of safe driving schemes and engaged with local
from quarries (associated road safety, noise vehicle specification and utilisation to
communities at site level to agree acceptable
and congestion) minimise impacts
operational arrangements

Concern about companies today only The Concrete Industry Sustainable Construction We have developed a strategy for sustainable
prioritising their bottom line and not Forum is working with stakeholders outside the construction which has four key objectives
Stakeholder Engagement considering their responsibilities to other industry. The strategy development process and eight commitments. A wide range of
stakeholders, organisations and consulted with external stakeholders on the stakeholders will be involved in delivering
the wider public development of the 14 performance indicators these commitments

Receiving products that are consistently We are developing a more coordinated

Quality systems are widely used in the concrete
best-in-class is a key requirement for UK approach to research & development to
industry. There are an increasing number of
Quality & Performance construction. The industry is also now increase the level of innovation and the
examples of innovation resulting in sustainable
demanding new and more sustainable development of more sustainable products
products and services
products and solutions and services

The cement and ground granulated blastfurnace

Energy costs are rising and fossil fuel sources We will do more to reduce energy use
slag sectors have worked with Defra on voluntary
becoming more difficult to access. across the industry. This will include
Energy Efficiency Climate Change Agreements. They have both
The industry needs to reduce its targeted programmes of activity to
exceeded their energy reduction targets of 23%
energy consumption spread good practice
(actual 28%) and 12% (actual 15%) respectively

We will do more to improve energy efficiency

Concrete production must be responsible The cement sector has reduced CO2 emissions by
and substitution of fossil fuels with
Climate Change for a sizeable amount of CO2 emissions in over 27% since 1990. Our activities have included
waste-derived fuels and renewables. The
CO2 Emissions (Production) the UK. Significant reductions are needed in investment in more efficient factories, replacing
and Energy CO2 emissions to help the UK meet the 80% fossil fuels with waste-derived fuels and using
cement sector has a target to reduce direct
CO2 by an additional 5.4% per tonne of
reduction target by 2050 materials with lower embodied CO2
cement by 2015 (from 2007 levels)

We are a local supplier with low delivery distances Continue to strive to maintain local sources of
from our factories to our clients. Therefore, our supply and develop improved data on transport
Shipping products long distances is not transport CO2 emissions are low. The quarrying to fully understand and minimise our impact.
CO2 Emissions (Transport)
sustainable because of the CO2 emissions industry uses transport modes such as rail and While we have some data on transport miles we
inland barge, which accounts for around 15 are planning more work to develop the way we
million tonnes collect data to fully understand our impact

We will continue to promote good practice

Concrete uses a lot of natural materials and We recycle most of our process waste and help our in design and activities which will reduce the
the industry needs to be smarter to use clients reduce waste on site by better design and amount of waste our clients send to landfill.
less materials initiatives such as take-back schemes This will be done through targeted
Materials Efficiency sector programmes

We support the use of recycled materials where We will continue to promote the use of the
The industry needs to reuse and recycle this results in the most sustainable solution. We use most sustainable products and solutions -
Natural Resource more to minimise use of virgin material by-products and secondary materials as both waste we will use recycled material where it
Protection fuels and a substitute for virgin material is appropriate
and Enhancing the
Environment There is widespread use of water-reducing
Concrete production uses a lot of water in We will do more to encourage the adoption
admixtures in concrete production - which can
the manufacturing process. The industry of good practice in water minimisation across
Water reduce water consumption by up to 30%.
should use as little water as possible and the industry and will develop an indicator for
There are numerous company-level examples
recycle as much as possible groundwater use in addition to mains use
of water recycling

Mineral extraction sites provide many

Concern about a negative impact on wildlife
opportunities to improve habitat in comparison Will continue to develop action plans on sites
and biodiversity. More should be done to
Site Stewardship with previous land use - we minimise impacts on where appropriate and continue to work with
minimise this impact and restore the
existing habitats. Over 700 Sites of Special stakeholders who have an interest in our sites
damage at the end of use
Scientific Interest are current or ex-quarries

We have worked hard to reduce incidents in

One incident is too many - Industry, in
the industry with individual sectors achieving Our future activity will continue towards
Health & Safety general, should do more to protect
significant reductions. However, more continued our aim for zero injuries
their workforce
effort is required

We will work to develop a performance

indicator for skills, such as the proportion of
Businesses need to respect, support and Management systems in place include the review
Creating Sustainable Employment & Skills develop their workforces. What sort of of training needs of staff and the provision of
employees with NVQ II or equivalent
qualifications or other similar metric linking
Communities employers are your companies? training required
into certified ISO9001/ISO14001 systems
(Training and Competence sections)

Local communities can experience positive

As a part of their local community, our production
and negative impacts associated with We will continue to develop and promote
sites engage with other members of the
quarrying, cement production and concrete good practice in local community
Local Community community formally and informally. There are
production. The industry needs to work with engagement, such as that encapsulated in
numerous examples of the positive contribution
communities to maximise the former and the Cement Makers Code
industry members have made
minimise the latter
References and Notes

1. For the most recent versions of sector reports, please contact the trade associations overleaf.
2. Unless otherwise stated, all data quoted in this report are for 2007.
3. Concrete for Energy-Efficient Buildings: The benefits of thermal mass, European Concrete Platform ASBL, 2007.
4. C
 ement, Concrete & Sustainability – a report on the progress of the UK cement and concrete industry towards sustainability, British Cement
Association, 2002.
5. Estimate based on Office for National Statistics data for ‘Concrete, Stone etc’ CO2 emissions. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 93 Economic
Sectors 1990 to 2006. (see: www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D5695.xls).
6. Survey of Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates in England 2005, Construction and Waste, DCLG, 2007.
7. McLaren, Bullock & Yousef, Tomorrows World: Britain’s Share in a Sustainable Future, Earthscan, 1997.
8. Figure includes aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete, mortar and industrial sand operations as published in QPA SD
report 2008 (see www.qpa.org).
9. British Precast collect data as a per cent of production rather than as a per cent of production sites.
10. Refers to ‘pollution and planning infringements’, as published in QPA SD report 2008 (see www.qpa.org).
11. Reported as ‘number of successful prosecutions’ in BCA Performance report 2008 (see www.cementindustry.org.uk), acccording with the
Environment Agency sector plan as ‘Number (number by type) of enforcement notices, formal cautions and successful prosecutions’.
12. These can be viewed in the BCA Performance Report 2008 (see www.cementindustry.org.uk).
13. Reflects sites operated by BRMCA / QPA members – whole number of sites for the whole UK industry is estimated to be 1,100.
14. British Precast collect data as a per cent of production rather that per cent of production sites.
15. Smith S., Matthew J. and Whitelegg N., Life cycle analysis of Housing, Housing Studies, 1997.
16. Customers of ready-mixed concrete typically specify in cubic metres. To be able to compare figures across different parts of the industry
data has also been converted into tonnes using a factor of 1 cubic metre = 2.38 tonnes.
17. Energy sources include delivered electricity, natural gas, gas oil, diesel and fuel oil.
18. Energy source is electricity only expressed in terms of primary energy.
19. Energy source is delivered electricity expressed in terms of primary energy and mains gas.
20. Figure refers to average of all admixtures production. Figures are taken from industry Environmental Product Declarations which cover
cradle to factory gate.
21. Energy sources include delivered electricity expressed in terms of primary energy and combustion fuels used as a source of thermal
energy in cement production in accordance with the UK Climate Change Agreement guidance and definitions.
22. Energy source is electricity only expressed in terms of delivered energy.
23. Energy sources include electricity, gas and gas oil/diesel with electricity expressed in terms of delivered energy.
24. Conversion factors taken from Guidelines to Defra’s Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors (June 2007).
25. Figure is based on data from six Environmental Product Declarations for different admixture types, averaged by UK sales volumes. The
figures available at www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk for carbon footprint calculations show data for a Water Reducing Admixture, at
220 kgCO2/t.
26. The cement figure 819 kg CO2/t of cement refers to the direct CO2 emissions from cement manufacture in 2007 as reported in the BCA
Performance report 2008. Specific conversion factors are in accordance with EU ETS Monitoring and Reporting Guidelines.
27. New objectives and targets for 2015 of the Environment Agency Sector Plan for the cement sector, as reported in BCA Performance
report, November 2008.
28. This estimate does not include water used in admixture production due to lack of available data.
29. Figure refers to Lost Time Accident (LTA). BCA definition of an LTA = an accident at work, which renders an employee or contractor
unable to perform their normal range of duties for a period of one or more days. (Note HSE RIDDOR uses a three day period).
30. Strategy for Sustainable Construction, HM Government in association with the Strategic Forum for Construction, 2008.
31. Figures include totals for aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and concrete products. Future work will aim to clarify the sector
employment figures.
32. Estimated based on the coverage of production sites by Environmental Management Systems (see PI 1).
33. Based on number employed by Civil & Marine.
34. Actual figure for 2007 number of direct employees; BCA estimate for number of indirect employees based on previous data.
35. Based on number of quarries recorded with community liaison groups.
36. All UKQAA member power stations have a community engagement programme, a formal system of complaints, provision of work
experience positions and support for community projects including school visits.
37. Based on the BCA indicator ‘Proportion (and number) of plants using community communication tools’ as reported in BCA Performance
report 2008.
38. Based on British Precast indicator ‘Number of factories operating formal local liaison schemes during the year’.
 Concrete Industry Sustainable Construction Strategy is supported by:
Aggregate Industries British Cement Association*
Brett Group British Precast
CEMEX Cement Admixtures Association
Hanson Cementitious Slag Makers Association
Lafarge Aggregates Quarry Products Association*
Lafarge Cement The Concrete Centre*
Marshalls plc UK Quality Ash Association
Tarmac
Trent Concrete

For details of all companies that have supplied data in this report, please contact the relevant trade associations.
* The British Cement Association, Quarry Products Association and The Concrete Centre merged in March 2009 to form the Mineral Products Association.

The Concrete Industry

Sustainability Performance Report

1st Report
To request more copies and
for updates on industry
performance visit
www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk

Published by The Concrete Centre, part of the Mineral Products Association,

on behalf of the Concrete Industry Sustainable Construction Forum

The Concrete Centre

Riverside House, 4 Meadows Business Park,
Station Approach, Blackwater, Camberley,
Surrey GU17 9AB

Tel: 01276 606800

www: concretecentre.com
The 1st Concrete Industry Sustainability Performance Report is
© The Concrete Centre, 2009 printed on paper made from 100% FSC certified virgin fibres,
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