MPA Scotland | Mineral Products Association (Scotland) Limited

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Sustainable Products

The mineral products industry makes an important contribution to a better built environment through the provision of systems, solutions, and guidance for the materials we provide.
aggregates

Aggregates

Aggregates are the major component of concrete by volume and are inherently a low carbon product. Most are naturally occurring materials requiring little processing and are usually locally sourced, with the associated benefit of reducing carbon associated with transportation.
concrete

Concrete

Concrete’s inherent strength, fire resistance, energy efficiency and durability helps to build safe, secure and comfortable buildings and resilient infrastructure that stand the test of time.

Furthermore, from the significant progress the industry is making to lower its carbon footprint through to the outstanding sustainable buildings being constructed, concrete is part of the solution towards creating a net zero carbon society.

Increasingly we’re recognising the importance of measuring the environmental performance of a building over its whole life, rather than simply considering the impact of its construction. In this way building with concrete provides numerous benefits.

Concrete is 100% recyclable. It’s durable, low-maintenance and long-lasting, meaning concrete structures remain fit for purpose for generations. It’s locally produced and can even be made using waste materials.

Concrete has built-in properties, such as thermal mass and carbonation, that help to avoid and reduce carbon emissions during the life of a building.

As well as continuing to innovate and lower carbon footprints, the concrete industry’s commitments to reduce carbon are playing a vital role in helping the UK achieve its sustainability targets of reaching a net zero carbon society by 2050, as committed to by the government.

To find out more visit www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk

PDF: Delivering Beyond Net Zero Report
asphalt

Asphalts

Innovative asphalts extend pavement life, reduce carbon emissions, eliminate waste and deliver a more sustainable approach to highway maintenance.

The pace of product development is rapid and the UK industry is driving towards the production and use of more sustainable asphalts through the increased use of recycled materials and reducing energy consumption by lowering mix temperatures.

Benefits of asphalt

  • Enhances road safety by maintaining high skid resistance and reducing spray
  • Reduces tyre/road surface noise
  • 100 per cent recyclable back into road surfaces
  • Use of lower temperature and/or reduced energy asphalts cut carbon emissions
  • Improves ride comfort
  • Durable – design life of at least 40 years
  • Quick and easy to lay, cutting down on lengthy roadworks

To find out more visit www.asphaltuk.org

Cement

The UK concrete and cement industry has launched a roadmap PDFto become net negative by 2050, removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits each year.

The UK concrete and cement sector has cut carbon emissions by more than 50% since 1990. In 2018, UK carbon dioxide emissions from concrete and cement were 7.3 million tonnes, approximately 1.5% of UK greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, in an unprecedented and collective commitment to tackling climate change, UK concrete and cement has become the first foundation industry to develop a roadmap to go beyond net zero by 2050.

To find out more visit cement.mineralproducts.org