COLEFORD: Hanson has become the UK’s biggest supplier of heavy building materials to receive the Carbon Trust Standard across all its business lines, achieving a 33% reduction in carbon emissions from January 2007 until December 2009.

 

The award follows three years of carbon monitoring and recognises the company’s achievements in measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions across all its operations ranging from cement works, brick factories and quarries to ready-mixed concrete and asphalt plants.

A key part of Hanson’s approach to achieving the accreditation was a change management programme for employees aimed at increasing energy awareness. It worked closely with the Carbon Trust on the project to develop a new culture aimed at empowering staff to identify and introduce changes to improve the sustainability of the company’s activities.

Other initiatives introduced include a combination of management controls and site-based changes, such as monitoring carbon emissions, and an opportunities database to highlight areas of further potential savings.

“We are delighted to have been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard as it demonstrates our commitment to the environment and is testament to the efforts of all our employees in reducing our carbon footprint,” said Martin Crow, head of sustainability at Hanson UK.

“We see the change management programme as an important step towards achieving our vision of sustainability. Additionally, the continual cycle of monitoring and reporting that we have introduced, followed by target actions and investment, ensures that Hanson will continue to minimise its carbon emissions.”

Harry Morrison, general manager of the Carbon Trust Standard said: “Being certified with the Carbon Trust Standard is proof that an organisation has taken genuine action to reduce its impact on climate change. We congratulate Hanson UK on this achievement.”