Holcim UK launch construction industry roadmap after public sustainability perceptions revealed
HOLCIM UK have outlined the commitments they are making to making UK construction more sustainable after their 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 plan 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 are 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, chief executive officer of Holcim UK, said: ‘Our research indicates that many recognize 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 are working to make sustainable construction a reality across the UK for customers and communities in the UK. This includes their Nature Strategy, launched in 2024, which incorporates a benchmarking process to track and measure the biodiversity of their quarry sites and associated landholdings.
Here, the business’s recent work includes planting a 64ha 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 are committed to expanding the uptake of sustainable building materials in the UK.
The company’s sustainable product ranges include ECOPact low-carbon ready-mixed concrete, the ECOPlanet range of low-carbon cements, and the ECOCycle range of products, which are made from at least 10% recycled materials.
Lee Sleight concluded: ‘Our strategic focus centres around making sustainable construction a reality, focusing on decarbonization, 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 read the report, click here.
