Ibstock announce ambitious carbon target

Ibstock plc, a leading UK manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products, is pleased to announce ambitious new carbon reduction commitments, including a target for the business to be net zero by 2040.

Having substantially achieved their existing goal of a 15% reduction in CO2 per tonne of production, the Group has established new, more stretching targets to achieve a 40% reduction by 2030, and a commitment to become net carbon zero by 2040.

This ambitious new net zero commitment will cover scope 1 & 2 emissions – including investment in more efficient production processes and in high quality environmental projects to offset residual carbon. A strategy to reduce indirect Scope 3 carbon emissions, which contribute less than 40% of the business impact, will be developed in 2022.

These new targets build on the Group’s existing sustainability roadmap commitments, creating a framework of targets and critical milestones at the centre of a new 2030 sustainability strategy.  Full details of the new sustainability strategy and net zero journey will be published in March 2022, as part of the Group’s 2021 results announcement.

Pledging net zero by 2040 is yet another bold commitment from the Group – following significant announcements throughout 2021 – further demonstrating the Group’s active progress to address climate change and move the business into the low carbon economy. Just some of the 2021 announcements include:

• The launch of ‘Ibstock Futures’ a new business unit, directly addressing a number of exciting future growth markets – with sustainability and the industrialisation of traditional construction processes gathering pace
• Investment of over £115m committed to construct two state of the art, net zero factories within the existing footprint at Ibstock’s Atlas and Nostell sites
• Procurement of 100% of electricity from renewable sources

The Group are also proud to have received multiple sustainability awards in reflection of both leadership and progress – following investment in new production capacity at multiple plants across the network over the last 20 years, reducing carbon intensity of the manufacturing process.

Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock PLC, commented: “Whilst we know we have much more to do, I am delighted that we are making progress on our commitments and are able to announce further carbon reduction targets in such an ambitious timeframe. These new carbon commitments, including our pledge to be net zero by 2040, represent a bold step on our journey to address climate change and move the business into the low carbon economy. I am proud of our colleagues across the business who are driving forward our sustainability agenda and securing its place at the core of our purpose as a business and I look forward to presenting further details on our ambitions and targets in March 2022.’’

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