A Roadmap to Reduce Impact

November 16, 2021

Last month the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) outlined roadmaps for net zero concrete products by 2050 for the global and Australian industry, respectively.

This transformative change for the industry is GCCA’s ‘Concrete Future’ Roadmap, aiming to achieve net zero concrete by 2050, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and mitigating climate change. 

Hanson Australia Sustainability Manager Brendan Liveris was delighted to see GCCA’s roadmap take shape. 

Hanson Australia’s new Sustainability Charter aligns with HeidelbergCement’s Global Sustainability Commitments.

“Every minute of my day at work is somehow linked to driving better sustainability outcomes for our business. It is hard to clearly articulate the magnitude of change that CO2 reduction and improving ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is having on our business and the industry. To my knowledge, there has never been a sharper corner turned, and it is incredibly exciting.”  

After water, concrete is the most widely substance used on the planet, and GCCA releasing the Net Zero roadmap is an exciting and important step in the industry. 

Liveris said that it would take a lot of work from stakeholders and much needed change to achieve the reduction in carbon emissions. 

“Our products are essential to building communities and the economy. However concrete and cement production is CO2 intensive, and our quarries require a lot of land. That’s why it’s so important that we are working on solutions across the supply chain that reduce impact.  

“We have a lot of work to do to achieve a sustainable balance. Sustainability is high on our agenda and it is driving a wave of incredible action that is changing the way we do business.  

Hanson Australia’s innovative high performance sustainable EcoTera, offers customers environmental benefits including lower embodied carbon and superior durability.

Liveris says that Hanson Australia had amplified its sustainability charge with the release of their Sustainability Charter last month.  

“At Hanson Australia, we are enthusiastically taking action with our new Sustainability Charter which we released to our employees and the public over the last couple of weeks. 

“Hanson Australia’s Sustainability Charter directly supports HeidlebergCement’s Global Sustainability Commitments, on a local level. It comprises of five strategic pillars and supporting initiatives that focus on Co2 Emissions, Sustainable Products, Biodiversity, Water and Corporate Social Responsibility. These pillars will help us guide our work, and achieve better outcomes for our people, our communities and our planet.” 

Liveris say these documents demonstrate how the construction materials industry will need to work together at all levels to an achieve acceptable carbon emissions reduction, globally. 

“The Concrete Futures CO2 reduction roadmap is a critical global step on this journey and a demonstration of an industry working for its communities as it has always done.”

“As someone who is on the ground, working directly on sustainability and emission reduction, I can say this roadmap is driving real and urgent action. If we continue to work together with relentless focus, we’ll make it happen.” 

Take a look at GCCA’s commitment in this introductory video… 

Hanson Australia’s Sustainability Charter guides the work of all its companies including Hanson, Alex Fraser, Hymix, PNQ and Suncoast Asphalt. 

Want to read more about Sustainability? Check out some of our previous publications…
HeidelbergCement sticks to sustainability on a global scale
Global Sustainability Commitments Guide Hanson’s New National Policy