Six BMF members achieve CLC net zero carbon Business Champion status

28 July 2021 

For the third consecutive month, BMF members featured prominently amongst the latest cohort of net zero carbon Business Champions supporting the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) CO₂nstruct Zero initiative.

With the confirmation of Hanson UK, JCB, Knauf Insulation, Saint-Gobain, Cocuun and Steel Blue as net zero Business Champions, thirteen BMF members have now committed to share evidence of their own progress to net zero carbon, and to work with other companies in the sector to support the industry-wide change programme.

Hanson’s priority is to innovate and to produce the lowest carbon materials for use in construction.  They have committed to carbon neutral concrete by 2050 with key accelerated milestones to help them achieve this. Around 90% of the Hanson UK CO₂ emissions are from its three cement works and they have prioritised reductions by increasing the use of alternative fuels and raw materials; by using secondary cementitious materials with a significantly lower CO₂ footprint; by making major investments in plant efficiency, carbon capture and storage, and by increasing the share of sustainable low carbon concrete products.

JCB has taken numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of its global manufacturing facilities and supply chain and has a waste reduction program that focuses on packaging and its ability to be fully recycled.  JCB products have evolved to use less fuel, with 10 machines now fully electric and great progress with hydrogen including the world’s first hydrogen powered 22 ton excavator, and the first hydrogen motor in a backhoe loader.

Saint Gobain has developed road maps for each of its operating businesses to reach net zero by 2050, with interim targets along the way.  Specific actions include committing to renewable energy, new cars to be fully electric by end 2023, capital investment in a new glass furnace to class leading performance, increasing recycled gypsum content in products, an active energy reduction programme, the use of alternative fuels in logistic, 100% recycled packaged by 2030 and deploying LED lighting across its network.

Knauf Insulation’s sustainability strategy commits the company to reducing the embodied carbon of its products by 15% between 2019 & 2025 and cutting its organisational carbon footprint by 25%.  Since 2015, Knauf has reduced energy use at manufacturing sites, reducing CO₂ emissions by over 5,000 tonnes a year. Industry-leading compression technology already reduces distribution road miles and the use of plastic packaging. This year will see new packaging across the range made from a minimum 30% recycled content, which is also itself easier to recycle.

Cocuun was founded in 2020 with net zero as its inspiration. The company embodies three of the CLC’s nine net zero priorities: whole house retrofit delivery, low carbon heat solutions - scaling up industry capability and supporting heat pump deployment, trials of hydrogen heating systems and heat networks - and enhancing energy performance of both new and existing buildings, through higher operational energy efficiency standards and better building energy performance monitoring.

Steel Blue, the workboot manufacturer, aims to be carbon neutral by 2025 globally. A 100kw solar panel system at its head office and manufacturing facility generates 71% power during peak operation and 100% power during off peak operation periods. The company also uses LED lighting and has implemented a hybrid car policy.  Since 2012 they have reduced the use of solvent based adhesives in manufacturing by 92.5%. They are also identifying potential circular economy opportunities and exploring improved recycling rates and a reduction in waste

The six BMF members were amongst 14 organisations confirmed in the third wave of CO₂nstruct Zero Business Champions, the others being RDM Electrical and Mechanical, Mott MacDonald, The Clarison Group, Mitie, Signify, Jackson, McLaughlin & Harvey and SES.

The CLC is running an ongoing monthly recruitment drive for more companies to commit to CO₂nstruct Zero as Business Champions.  If any BMF member would like to be considered, please contact John Newcomb in the first instance, at [email protected]