Greenhouse gas management
Energy efficiency is central to our approach to greenhouse gas management. We invest in modern efficient plant, work hard to reduce waste and use waste-derived fuels to cut our CO2 emissions.
In addition to improving energy efficiency, our priorities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions include:
- extending our use of waste-derived fuels by using selected recycled waste and biomass materials
- using renewable energy, where practical
- implementing CO2 savings through transport and logistics
- managing landfill gas emissions effectively
- complying with government climate change policy and contributing to relevant policy debates
- supporting the development of carbon capture and storage technologies.
Performance summary
Total CO2 emissions
In 2011, our CO2 emissions were 1.44 million tonnes of CO2e. This included 1.27 million tonnes of direct emissions and 170,000 tonnes of indirect emissions. During this year, we estimate that around 11,000 tonnes of CO2e was emitted from landfill sites within our portfolio.
The current economic situation in the UK has had a direct impact on demand for construction products, which has contributed to lower operational CO2 emissions.
Specific CO2 emissions
This year, there was a 12% improvement on the 2004 baseline for Tarmac UK operations (reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per unit of production).
Cement
- 41% reduction* in CO2 per tonne of Portland cement equivalent over the last ten years
- 44,635 tonnes of waste materials beneficially used as fuels in 2011
- 140,000 tonnes of fossil fuels saved since 2006 when we began to use waste-derived fuels
* as a percentage of baseline.
In 2011, our ongoing commitment to use waste-derived fuels such as Calfuel®, has kept our carbon emissions per tonne of cement below the industry average.
Our targets
Tarmac shares the overarching target set by our parent company, Anglo American, of reducing CO2 emissions per unit of production by 10% by 2014. However, because we have already made significant progress towards achieving this, we set a new, more ambitious target.
Greenhouse gas reduction target
- 15% reduction by 2014 against 2004 baseline
(reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per unit of production).
Transport targets
- Reduce the proportion of empty miles compared to total miles travelled by tipper delivery vehicles by a minimum of 2.5%.
- Achieve a train fill minimum value of at least 94% for rail from Tarmac Limited, Buxton Lime and Cement rail loading facility.
Carbon Footprints
- Continue the roll-out of our Carbon Footprint Calculator, launched in 2011.
