Holcim UK launches Construction Industry Roadmap after public sustainability perceptions revealed
Sustainable building solutions specialist Holcim UK (formerly Aggregate Industries) has outlined the commitments it is making to making UK construction more sustainable after its research revealed that only 41% of the population think that the UK’s towns and cities are currently built sustainably.
Holcim’s UK survey of 2,000 adults also revealed that 82% believe there should be more access to green spaces across the country. While 69% think the government should take the lead in driving sustainable action, 54% also believe businesses must play a key role. On top of this, 80% want companies to be more transparent about their sustainability policies.
As a result, the report, named Making Sustainable Construction a Reality, has been published to outline the specific areas where Holcim UK plans to lead the construction sector towards overcoming pressing sustainability challenges.
The report details the megatrends shaping construction and the five commitments the brand is making to ensure it leads the industry towards a more sustainable future. Providing insight and how Holcim UK is responding to challenges in these areas, the report aims to give the industry and government a suggested route towards making sustainable construction a reality.
Lee Sleight, CEO at Holcim UK, said: “Our research indicates that many recognise the need to incorporate more green spaces across the nation. Yet, it is clear that the government and businesses must work together to achieve this.
“To help businesses in the wider construction sector in their own sustainability efforts, our latest report looks to address the most pressing sustainability challenges with viable solutions, from accurate reporting to alternative fuels.”
The report includes details of how Holcim UK is working to make sustainable construction a reality across the UK for customers and communities in the UK. This includes its Nature Strategy, launched in 2024, which incorporates a benchmarking process to track and measure the biodiversity of its quarry sites and associated landholdings.
Here, the business’s recent work includes planting a 64-hectare woodland at Glensanda Quarry in a move to restore part of the temperate rainforest that once thrived in the Scottish region. The plantation of 105,000 trees will also create priority woodland habitat for local wildlife, including wood warblers, chequered skippers and otters.
With the survey revealing that 45% of respondents believe the construction industry should be more sustainable, Holcim UK is committed to expanding the uptake of sustainable building materials in the UK.
Its sustainable product ranges include its ECOPact low carbon readymix concrete, ECOPlanet range of low carbon cement and its ECOCycle range of products, which are made from at least 10% recycled materials.
Lee concluded: “Our strategic focus centres around making sustainable construction a reality, focusing on decarbonisation, nature, circularity and innovation. The aim is to achieve this through both our commitment to reducing our own impact on communities and the planet, in addition to driving positive change for the industry and customers through our expert teams and sustainable solutions.”
To find out more about Holcim UK or to read the report, visit www.holcim.co.uk
