British mineral products companies are at the forefront of innovations to reduce the carbon footprint of their activities.
Reducing carbon not only makes good environmental sense but it also makes good business sense as it ultimately means using less energy.
From the sourcing of alternative raw materials and harnessing renewable energies, to optimising the manufacturing process and transporting materials by train, ship or barge, there’s no shortage of solutions which together have enabled the industry to achieve a huge reduction in the carbon impact of products like concrete.
Delivering Beyond Net Zero Report
Now the industry is pushing carbon reduction to the next level with several promising examples of ground-breaking products under development.
The biggest barrier preventing the use of lower-energy product innovations is acceptance from the construction industry – and its regulators – which have come to depend on tried and tested materials with a long history of good performance.
Undeterred, mineral products companies are steadily breaking new ground – in some cases over many years – to encourage customers to adapt their thinking and adopt innovations.
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Our whole industry is committed to net zero
Achieving that will require businesses to prepare for Carbon Capture, Usage and/or Storage (CCUS), alternative fuels, on-site equipment and transport.
For Scotland’s cement plant at Dunbar and other manufacturing activities, this will rely on zero carbon electricity, hydrogen or waste biomass being available in sufficient quantities and new infrastructure such as grid connections being affordable.
It also needs the Westminster Government to progress its CCUS plans and ensure a level playing field with international competitors to attract private investment to Scotland.
Our industry will be a critical enabler for delivering Scotland’s incredible renewable energy potential. Floating offshore wind can use domestically-produced concrete bases, with a local, sustainable supply chain already in place.
Add in the ports, energy and transport networks required for the transition to net zero and there will be significant need for our sector’s materials to support Scotland’s energy transition.