Bradstone work for sustainable future

Over the last decade Aggregate Industries have been assessing their impact on the environment and looking at ways to improve and offset its carbon emissions.

Following data analysis, the company set itself a target of reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% per tonne production by 2010. Four years later, this target has already been met and reset to 20% per tonne production by 2012.

Research, in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, showed where not only energy could be saved, but money as well. From small steps such as turning off lights and switching off computers to larger commitments such as switching from using fuel oil in the production of asphalt to using natural gas.

Reclamation and recycling have also been high on the agenda. Particularly since the government put pressure on the industry to use recycled and secondary materials by imposing a levy on primary aggregates.

Bradstone, for example, have consistently developed products using reclaimed and recycled aggregates over the past three years. And, say the company, with an appearance and price identical to that of paving using primary aggregates, there is no reason for the consumer not to choose the product.

Bradstone’s Ian Wright says: “This is one area of the Bradstone product offering which will continue to grow over coming years. When we first discussed the idea of a product using secondary aggregates to our focus group about five years ago, the response could be best described as lukewarm. However, a few years on and public attitudes towards ‘recycled’ and the knowledge that now surrounds the whole debate on reducing carbon emissions means this is now a very viable alternative.”

Aggregate Industries chief executive Bill Bolsover added: “We all now understand that the earth’s natural resources, whether fossil fuels or building materials, are finite and we must take sensible steps to conserve, re-use and manage them sustainably.