Message from our President

Throughout 2022 we have made significant progress against all aspects of our sustainability goals. This includes continuing to reduce our carbon emissions and increase our use of recycled materials. It also extends to supporting the wellbeing of the people who work for us and being part of projects to increase biodiversity and community involvement in the areas where we operate.

Following publication of our Act sustainability strategy in 2021, we continue to focus on its three key themes – people, planet and solutions. These are central to both our business operations and our customers. As a company we had already set ambitious goals for the business to become net zero before 2050. In 2022, Tarmac worked with its parent company, CRH, to revise its carbon reduction targets and submit them for SBTi validation.

In 2022, one of the most significant changes we made towards reaching these goals was to make warm mix asphalt our default for all delivered surface, base and binder course material. We were the first in the UK sector to make this switch from traditional hot mix asphalt, which is expected to save around 21,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Other significant milestones included ordering the UK’s first fully electric readymix concrete mixer. This e-mixer was developed by Renault Trucks and TVS Interfleet following a successful pitch at our 2020 Supplier Innovation Challenge. It is an important step in our mission to deliver net zero logistics and demonstrates how our suppliers are supporting our sustainability work. We held our second Supplier Sustainability Week in 2022, with over 650 attendees discussing all aspects of sustainability and how we can work together to innovate and make meaningful changes.

Our people are central to everything we do, and we aim to encourage a fair, inclusive and supportive culture where everyone belongs and are heard. In 2022, we achieved the Clear Assured gold accreditation status for inclusion and diversity. Building on our silver accreditation in 2021, this demonstrates the progress we’re continuing to make. Tarmac also partnered with Scope to promote careers and advertise roles in construction to people who are neurodiverse or have a visible or non-visible physical disability. The partnership was the first of its kind between the disability equality charity and a construction company.

We were delighted when our National Skills and Safety Park successfully completed its first Ofsted inspection, passing all three assessment areas. Over 2,200 employees trained at the centre in 2022, including new starters undertaking our induction process for operational staff.

We have a responsibility as a business to play an active role in the communities we operate in. In 2022, Tarmac teams across the UK volunteered thousands of hours on community and biodiversity projects. Another achievement we are particularly proud of is the planting of over 17,000 trees in Panshanger Park in Hertfordshire as part of the Queen’s Canopy.

While we have set ourselves ambitious sustainability goals and the challenges are significant, everyone at Tarmac should be proud of the strides we’ve made in 2022. These were only possible thanks to efforts of teams and partners across the UK.

In 2023 as Tarmac releases its roadmap to net zero and participates in further exciting initiatives on social value, we look forward to making further progress and delivering improved outcomes in all aspects of sustainability.