Tarmac

Tarmac’s 2024 Sustainability Report states a clear climate objective to “be net zero before 2050.” Tarmac also aligns with CRH’s 2050 net-zero ambition and SBTi-validated targets aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. For benchmarking, the safest wording is: Tarmac aims to be net zero before 2050, aligned with CRH’s 2050 net-zero ambition and SBTi-validated targets.

Net zero before 2050; aligned with CRH SBTi 1.5°C pathway.

Tarmac is aligned with CRH’s target to achieve a 30% absolute reduction in group-wide CO₂e emissions by 2030, using 2021 as the baseline year. In 2024, Tarmac reported a 14% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 market-based CO₂e emissions versus the 2021 baseline.

30% absolute reduction by 2030 vs 2021; 14% achieved.

Tarmac reports Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions. Its GRI Index reports Scope 1: 1.56 million tonnes CO₂e, Scope 2: 5,000 tonnes CO₂e, and Scope 3: 672,000 tonnes CO₂e. Scope 1 represents approximately 70% of total emissions, while Scope 3 represents around 30%. Tarmac also states that it will continue improving its understanding of Scope 3 emissions and working with suppliers to reduce them.

Scope 1 1.56 Mt; Scope 2 5 kt; Scope 3 672 kt disclosed.

Tarmac’s responsible extraction evidence is mainly linked to environmental stewardship, biodiversity net gain, responsible supply chain management, BES 6001 responsible sourcing certification, and circular economy. Its Environmental Stewardship objective is to “achieve net positive environmental outcomes.” On the marine side, Tarmac Marine operates in the southern North Sea, English Channel, Bristol Channel and Irish Sea, using four purpose-built dredgers to extract marine sand and gravel from licensed dredging areas.

BES 6001 responsible sourcing; net-positive environmental objective.

Tarmac’s GRI Index reports a 14% reduction in CO₂e per product tonne versus the 2021 baseline. This is not specific to marine aggregates, but it can be used as a group-level production-intensity metric. Cement- and lime-related emissions are also reported separately, but no marine / aggregates-specific kgCO₂e per tonne metric is clearly disclosed on the reviewed site.

14% reduction in CO2e/t since 2021 at group level; not marine-specific.

The clearest absolute progress metric is a 14% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 market-based CO₂e emissions versus the 2021 baseline. Tarmac also reports absolute Scope 1 and 2 values in the GRI Index: Scope 1: 1.56 MtCO₂e and Scope 2: 5,000 tCO₂e.

14% absolute Scope 1+2 (market-based) reduction vs 2021.

In 2024, Tarmac reported 25.27 million m³ of total water used. This included 10.23 million m³ of ground and surface water, 1.19 million m³ of potable water, 13.72 million m³ of recycled water, and 0.13 million m³ of rainwater. Tarmac also has a circular economy target to reduce water consumption per product tonne by 25% by 2030.

25.27 Mm³ total water; 54% from recovery; 25% reduction target by 2030.

Tarmac states that water abstraction is a regulated process managed through licences issued by the relevant environmental regulator, with the sustainability of water sources considered before licences are granted. The GRI Index also states that no water bodies were identified as being at risk from Tarmac’s operations or abstraction. Tarmac uses recycled, harvested and grey water systems; around 54.27% of total water use came from recovery sources, including rainwater recycling in ponds and lagoons.

Licensed abstraction; no water bodies at risk; recycled water systems.

Tarmac provides strong biodiversity exposure evidence. Its GRI Index states that 88 operational locations are located within, or within 500 metres of, protected areas or areas of high biodiversity value. These include UK-designated areas such as SSSI, SAC, National Parks, SPA, Ramsar sites, NNR, LNR and AONB. The Environmental Stewardship section also highlights biodiversity net gain and contribution to national biodiversity and land-management strategies.

88 sites within 500m of protected areas; biodiversity net gain commitments.

This metric is relevant to Tarmac both through quarry land-use impacts and marine seabed extraction. Tarmac Marine operates four purpose-built vessels extracting sand and gravel from licensed dredging areas at depths of 10, 45 metres across the southern North Sea, English Channel, Bristol Channel and Irish Sea. Its Marine Aggregates material states that Tarmac Marine supplies more than 3 million tonnes of marine aggregates annually, manages more than 300 million tonnes of reserves, and operates 24/7, 365 days a year. However, a specific seabed-disturbance area or licence-by-licence dredged area is not clearly disclosed.

4 marine vessels; >3 Mt/yr; >300 Mt reserves; specific dredged area not disclosed.

Tarmac has strong quarry restoration evidence. At Panshanger Park, Tarmac has undertaken restoration after sand and gravel quarrying and entered a 10-year Countryside Stewardship agreement covering historic landscape restoration and wood pasture / parkland creation. At Ryton Wood Meadows, 12.4 hectares of restoration has been delivered, and the site is described as one of Warwickshire’s most biodiverse sites. Tarmac also reported 28,000 trees planted in 2024.

Site-level restoration evidence; 28,000 trees planted in 2024.

Tarmac is not a tailings-heavy mining company, so formal GISTM / TSF-style tailings management is not directly applicable. The closest equivalent is quarry residues, recycled aggregates, recycled asphalt planings, construction / demolition / excavation waste recovery, slag aggregates and secondary materials. Tarmac launched Circular Solutions Aggregates in 2024, positioning slag aggregates as a high-quality alternative to primary aggregates. Benchmark wording should be: formal tailings not applicable; circular / secondary aggregate and quarry-material substitution evidence present.

Tailings not applicable; Circular Solutions Aggregates with slag substitution.

Tarmac is strong on circularity. In 2024, it used 6.3 million tonnes of waste and secondary materials from other sectors as raw materials or fuel. It recycled 96.5% of operational waste, with only around 6,568 tonnes sent to landfill. It also reused over 1 million tonnes of recycled asphalt planings in asphalt production. Average recycled content across the product portfolio was 5%, with 3% in aggregates, 22% in asphalt, and 5% in concrete.

6.3 Mt waste/secondary materials used; 96.5% operational waste recycled.

Tarmac’s GRI Index reports no fines or prosecutions during the reporting period. More than 300 operational sites are covered by an ISO 14001-certified environmental management system. Cement operations use Best Available Techniques and are subject to environmental regulator oversight. For marine operations, Tarmac discloses licensed dredging areas and marine controls / environmental studies, but does not provide a detailed marine permit-breach or dredging-specific incident count.

No fines/prosecutions; 300+ sites ISO 14001-certified.

Tarmac has strong supplier evidence. The GRI Index states that the company works with around 5,500 vendors, with 98% of spend going to UK suppliers. Tarmac uses the CRH Supplier Code of Conduct, and suppliers complete vendor questionnaires covering environment, safety, health and quality. Tarmac also maintained BES 6001 certification with an “Excellent” rating across all product groups. Its 2024 Supplier Sustainability Week had 693 attendees, and its innovation pipeline focuses on decarbonisation, circularity and water.

5,500 vendors; CRH Code; BES 6001 Excellent; Supplier Sustainability Week.