Sustainability Champion — Breedon Group plc

Breedon's sustainability agenda

For a business that relies on finite natural materials and carbon intensive processes to make its products, it’s a huge challenge to become more sustainable. Add to that the increasing demand for construction materials (concrete is now the most consumed man-made product in the world) and the scale of the problem could seem insurmountable. But Breedon is embracing the challenge.

The Group has committed to achieving net zero by 2050 (sooner if possible), through a sustainability strategy that focusses on three pillars: Planet, People and Places, all of which are underpinned by its fundamental operating Principles.

Here are some of the key areas of focus for the business within each pillar of its sustainability framework.

Planet

Breedon is focused on making a positive material difference to the environment in multiple ways, including:

• Renewable energy and alternative fuels. In 2022, the Group’s electricity was almost entirely sourced from renewable contracts. Planning consent has been granted to build a 17MW solar array project that will deliver up to 20% of the electricity needed at Kinnegad Cement Works near Dublin, Ireland. The firm has also halved the amount of fossil fuels used at the Kinnegad Cement Works and the Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire, by replacing these with more sustainable alternative fuels.
• Decarbonising transport. Breedon has an extensive rail network which enables them to move product by rail, and has also procured more fuel-efficient and lower-emission vehicles (including hybrids). It’s also trialling the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil as an alternative fuel in quarry vehicles.
• Reusing waste materials. Breedon already consumes more waste from other industries than it creates, but it wants to do more. It recently upgraded its Mansfield Asphalt plant to enable it to make a product that contains up to 50% recycled asphalt. The company is also lobbying Government to redirect more waste material, including high biomass, back into the cement industry to be reused and recycled into new products.
• Investing in carbon capture and storage. Breedon is one of the key partners involved in the Peak Cluster project, which is engaged in the pioneering HyNet carbon capture and storage infrastructure project. The Peak Cluster project aims to cut over three million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year by 2030 — a move that will reduce total emissions from the industry by 40% in the UK.
• Enhancing biodiversity across its sites. Breedon is focused on delivering nature-based solutions, including the restoration and regeneration of the environmental ecosystems where it operates. In 2022, Breedon developed Biodiversity Action Plans for 25 of its sites, planted over 31,000 trees, and worked with partners, such as Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, to implement land management plans.

People

In addition to its focus on the environment, Breedon also aims to make a positive material difference to society by developing and empowering a diverse, talented workforce of over 3,700 people, and by ensuring they are a good neighbour to the communities in which they work.

The Group has a target to positively impact 100,000 people by 2030 and at the end of 2022, it was already over a quarter of the way there (28.9%).

Some of the Group’s highlights from 2022 include:

• Providing almost 22,000 hours of training to employees (61% up on the year before).
• Recruiting a record number of apprentices and graduates.
• Supporting 28 employees to achieve industry-specific certificate, diploma and foundation degree qualifications with the University of Derby, and supporting 50 others to enrol on to higher and further education programmes.
• More than doubling its financial donations to charities and community organisations.
• Developing 55 Good Neighbour Plans, in consultation with local communities.
• Experiencing a record low number of neighbour complaints.

Places

Breedon’s focus on research and development provides innovative, lower carbon products that help create a more sustainable built environment for everyone. This includes products for infrastructure projects that enhance climate resilience, such as flood defence schemes and green energy networks, and products that are made at lower temperatures, or use bio-based binders, or concretes with self-healing characteristics.  

Breedon has recently launched ‘Breedon Balance’ — a range of products that have enhanced sustainability attributes, such as a longer life, a lower carbon footprint, recycled content, and materials that are ethically sourced. By 2030, Breedon is aiming for 50% of its concrete and asphalt sales revenue to be derived from these innovative and sustainable products.

Principles

Underpinning the pillars of Planet, People and Places, Breedon’s focus on their fundamental operating Principles ensure that they operate their business responsibly:

• keeping people safe and well
• providing quality products
• conducting business ethically, with integrity and good governance, and
• considering the interests of its stakeholders.

The importance of Derbyshire

Derbyshire is an important region for the business. Around 15 of its c.300 sites are in Derbyshire, including its Head Office at Breedon-on-the-Hill near East Midlands Airport and a cement plant located in the Hope Valley within the Peak District National Park, which is the largest producer of cement in the UK. Many of the firm’s employees live locally and, where possible, the company uses local suppliers and services.

By being a Top 200 business, as well as a responsible neighbour and a good employer, Breedon not only makes a positive difference to the environment, but also contributes significantly to our local economy and our communities.