Sustainable product performance
Sustainable product performance means ensuring our products are extracted and manufactured efficiently and that they deliver maximum sustainability benefits when in use. It also means providing sustainability information, certification and support for customers, to help them choose the right product and address a range of sustainability challenges. This includes complying with regulatory standards, improving recycled content and reducing carbon footprints, as well as improving durability and demonstrating value for money.
Our actions
Innovation
Tarmac continuously develops innovative products and services to help customers meet their sustainability challenges and deliver more sustainable construction. We offer lower carbon products, higher recycled content, more durable products and products that deliver more value for money.
Read about our new waterproof concrete
Read about our Concrete Calculator app
Responsible Sourcing
In 2011, we achieved independent certification to the BES 6001 Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products with a ‘VERY GOOD’ rating across our entire UK product range. We also achieved the Achilles BuildingConfidence accreditation across our UK business. In early 2012, we also became the first in our sector to achieve the top five-star rating under the new BuildingConfidence rating scheme.
Read more on Responsible Sourcing
Carbon Footprint Calculator
In 2011, Tarmac launched the industry’s first comprehensive Carbon Footprint Calculator. It enables us to provide customers with carbon footprint information for any product from any of our manufacturing locations in the UK.
Read more on Tarmac’s Carbon Footprint Calculator
Reducing energy and CO2 emissions
We have a longstanding commitment to reduce energy use across our entire business as well as to cut CO2. In addition to our own efficiency programmes, we work on specific initiatives with external partners like the Carbon Trust.
Read more on energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon Trust Standard
In early 2011, our whole UK organisation achieved the Carbon Trust Standard for our CO2 management and reduction performance over the past two years.
Read more on the Carbon Trust Standard
Supply chain management
Tarmac has achieved BuildingConfidence accreditation and is a member of the Achilles BuildingConfidence governing council. We are committed to the underlying principles of BuildingConfidence and over the coming years will be implementing a programme to require our entire supply chain to gain accreditation. Tarmac is also a member of the Construction Product Association’s Green Procurement Group, which was set up in 2007 to deliver greater transparency and open dialogue between companies throughout the supply chain to achieve CO2, energy and waste reduction targets.
Read more on supply chain management and responsible sourcing
Product certification
Our products are manufactured using quality and environmental management systems certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, so customers know that they are made with the utmost consideration for quality and the environment.
Read more on product quality management
Read more on environmental protection
Quality management
Product quality is a cornerstone of good sustainability performance. We focus on processes, third-party certification and understanding our customers’ needs to ensure our products are of consistent high quality.
Read more on product quality management
Improving sustainability performance
Tarmac continuously enhances the sustainability performance of our products to help customers respond to the sustainability challenges set out in the UK Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Construction and other construction regulations and codes. We do this by:
- reducing the carbon footprint of products by using more energy-efficient manufacturing processes or better product design
- increasing recycling and recycled content of products, particularly in asphalt, cement and concrete production; and encouraging the use of recycled materials, such as recycled aggregates
- delivering better value for money by making products more durable or tailoring them to meet clients’ specific needs
- generating less waste across the product life cycle, including reducing waste in our manufacturing processes, helping clients manage their own waste better and improving the recyclability of our products
- minimising water usage in our own manufacturing processes as well as water consumption associated with product usage
- reducing flood risk through use of porous asphalt surfaces, which provide improved drainage of surface water
- meeting responsible sourcing criteria by demonstrating to customers that we are committed to safeguarding our workforce and protecting the environment across all our operations.
