Natural Resources and the environment

Tarmac's Sustaibable resouces and environment Tarmac is a company that provides products and services based around the materials we quarry, such as sand, hard rock and gravel. We use these minerals to produce products like ready mixed concrete, asphalt, cement and lime. These products help meet the need for infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals, homes, and offices, as well as consumables used in steel, pharmaceuticals, food, clean water and sewage treatment.

We have a clear responsibility to quarry materials in an efficient and sustainable way - protecting the environment and communities in which we work. We do this without compromising the resource base for future generations.

What is Tarmac doing for the environment?

We try to manage the impacts of our activities on the environment; promoting biodiversity, safeguarding archaeological heritage and restoring sites are an integral part of our responsibility.

We are also committed to using natural resources responsibly and sustainably. This includes minimising waste, conserving water, controlling our emissions and helping to recycle or reuse waste to make useful products.

Environmental protection

Given the breadth and nature of our business, it is essential that we protect the environments in which we work and live. This involves focusing on biodiversity, cataloguing archaeological finds, restoring sites, working with local communities to understand and address their concerns, and having strict standards and policies for environmental management at each site.

Efficient use of natural resources

Our materials and products are used across the UK in all aspects of our everyday lives. We need to use our natural resources carefully and efficiently. We are doing this by focusing on reducing waste, promiting the use of recycled materials and conserving water.

Did you know?

In 2009, Tarmac further reduced waste sent to licensed disposal by 13% against our 2004 baseline
In 2009 we recycled 70% of our total waste across all our businesses.
In 2009, we produced 1.4 million tonnes of recycled aggregates from materials including construction and demolition waste in 2009. This made us the UK's leading supplier in this field. See more on Recycled aggregates.
In 2009 for concrete, we reduced our use of potable water per unit of production by nearly 20%.
Tarmac was the first quarrying company to have Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) in place at all active UK quarries.
98% of our sites have BES 14001 certification
Over 70% of our concrete products have recycled or secondary material content.
We have over 50 recycling sites in the UK.
Since 2004, we have used over 80,000 tonnes of waste as a fuel.