Innovation Showcase | In partnership with Heidelberg Materials
Hanson UK rebrands
Hanson UK has become Heidelberg Materials, aligning with its parent company which announced its new global branding in September 2022.
Hanson UK has rebranded to Heidelberg Materials as the heavy building materials supplier positions itself to meet the impacts of global challenges like climate change and digitalisation.
The company produces aggregates, asphalt, readymix concrete, cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) – a lower carbon cement replacement – and recycled materials for the infrastructure we need to live, learn, work and travel.
“Having a single brand name and identity sends a clear and consistent message to our increasingly global customers and fosters collaboration across geographical and organisational borders,” explains Heidelberg Materials UK chief executive officer Simon Willis.
Heidelberg Materials is committed to carbon reduction and digitisation
DECARBONISING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Readymix concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. It is flexible, durable and strong. It absorbs CO2 throughout its life and is 100% recyclable, contributing significantly to the circular economy and providing materials with lower embodied carbon.
Heidelberg Materials is the UK’s largest supplier of Regen GGBS, a readily available and reliable option to reduce the embodied carbon in concrete through the replacement of CEM I cement.
To make specifying lower carbon concretes easier, the company has created its EcoCrete range, which contain Regen GGBS to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with standard CEM I concrete by at least 30%.
The company is also progressing a range of innovative projects like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and using hydrogen as a fuel source in production to help the construction industry towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
CCS is vital if net zero concrete is to become a reality as it will allow CO2 released during cement the production of cement to be captured before it enters the atmosphere. To achieve this, Heidelberg Materials is proposing to invest around £400M to build an industry-leading carbon capture facility at its Padeswood cement works in north Wales.
GROWING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Heidelberg Materials is committed to growing the circular economy, allowing more to be built with less. It recovers construction and demolition waste, recycling and reusing it so it can reduce the use of primary raw materials and provide its customers with products which are more sustainable.
GOING DIGITAL
The company also wants to lead the way in moving the heavy building materials industry towards digitalisation. It is developing digital solutions to provide added value to its customers, making working together easier, more efficient and more sustainable.
Willis adds: “Customer demands, markets and competitors are changing rapidly and being part of a global team will allow us to take full advantage of our strengths.
“Our commitment to delivering high quality, lower carbon building solutions remains and, as we head to the future, we will continue to drive innovation and deepen partnerships with our customers.”