The specialist building-products business switched to bio-LPG from the industry-standard LPG, leading to the huge carbon saving.
The switch to using bio-liquefied petroleum gas (bio-LPG) has resulted a decline of 70% in carbon emissions.
The firm, which has manufacturing locations in Fivemiletown, Dungannon, Toome, Ballygawley and Carryduff, already has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its operations to an absolute minimum.
The move was led by CEO Stephen Acheson with support from the firm’s net zero carbon team, which was set up with the aim of reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
This is the latest in a series of sustainability initiatives launched by AG, such as its dedication to producing a significant amount of its products using recycled aggregates alongside locally quarried materials. The firm also plans to change to 100% renewable energy and is striving to have a full hybrid/electric fleet by 2025.
Regular reviews of its systems and procedures ensure AG is constantly improving its energy efficiency, which is monitored monthly in each facility. Workshops are organised for employees, and the purchasing of equipment or goods is restricted to those with the lowest carbon footprint.
Rodney Davidson, Commercial Director at AG said: “We define sustainability as an intrinsic balance between the social and economic aspects of our business. For many years, we have worked tirelessly to reduce our energy usage and we are delighted to switch to the more environmentally-friendly bio-LPG - edging us closer to our carbon-neutral goal.”
“We have already made significant steps towards this goal including the introduction of a curing system for our concrete products which has significantly reduced energy consumption and water requirement on site. Added to this, the commissioning of our state-of-the-art aggregate washing plant reduces the huge energy requirement necessary for producing primary aggregate.”
Group CEO Stephen Acheson added: “AG has a corporate social responsibility to be sustainable. We have adopted a long-term corporate philosophy that focuses on the wider message of lasting sustainable reductions in energy and water requirements.”
“Every facility has a designated ‘Energy Champion’ whose job it is to check for any wastage of energy or water. We are constantly striving to improve energy efficiency and are delighted that this new switch enables us to make a massive carbon saving, lowering our carbon footprint even more.”
“Each of our sites bring our corporate environmental philosophy to life and our commitment to reducing the impact our sites have on our neighbours and surrounding environment is evidenced by the rich biodiversity found around our sites – such as the peregrine falcons currently nesting in our Fivemiletown quarry”
