As Tarmac Blue Circle marks 125 years of supplying trusted cement to the UK construction industry, sustainability remains firmly at the core of our vision for the future. With housebuilders and developers under increasing pressure to deliver more sustainable projects, the concrete and cement sector is evolving rapidly to meet net zero targets.
Cement is often seen as a carbon-intensive material, and for good reason. Around 7% of global carbon emissions stem from cement production. But meaningful progress requires more than just reducing embodied carbon at the manufacturing stage. It’s a supply chain-wide challenge that demands action across five key pillars: production, process, product, packaging, and placement.
Here, Garry Gregory, Packed Products Director at Tarmac, explains how the sector is adapting and why Blue Circle’s 125-year legacy now includes lower-carbon innovations for the next generation of building.
Production: Driving cleaner manufacturing
Sustainable cement production is a multi-faceted challenge that includes raw material extraction, fuel usage, energy sourcing, and emissions management. At Tarmac, we’ve made targeted improvements across our operations, shifting from traditional fossil fuels to alternative energy sources like biomass and waste-derived fuels. Every site is reviewed for opportunities to reduce carbon impacts in a practical, measurable way.
As part of our decarbonisation roadmap, we introduced the UK’s first battery electric mixer truck in 2022. In 2025, we run the largest electric HGV fleet in the UK construction sector. These vehicles don’t just support carbon neutrality, they help reduce noise, vibration, and improve local air quality, making them ideal for urban and low-emissions zones.
As we celebrate 125 years of the Blue Circle brand, this shift is part of our promise to build on our sustainability credentials.
Process: Smarter systems, less waste
Sustainable transformation isn’t just about electric vehicles and kilns, it’s also about digitising how we work. One major efficiency gain has been the move towards automation and digital administration. At Tarmac, we’ve introduced digital proof of delivery (EPOD) and electronic payments, significantly reducing paperwork, physical processing, and carbon-emitting vehicle movements.
We’ve also invested in waste management and recycling initiatives, ensuring that manufacturing by-products are reused rather than sent to landfill. Cement production is becoming more circular and efficient, offering environmental benefits without compromising performance or productivity.
Product: A new standard in lower-carbon cement
A major milestone in our sustainability journey is the transition of all Blue Circle ready-to-use products from CEMI to CEMII cement. This change represents a step-change in carbon reduction, offering up to 15% lower CO₂ emissions per tonne.
Blue Circle’s Mastercrete, for example, is now made using CEMII technology, delivering the same trusted quality with improved sustainability credentials. Postcrete, another household name in UK landscaping and fencing, also benefits from this shift, giving builders a product that’s robust, reliable and lower in carbon.
Our move to CEMII aligns with BS EN 197-1 standards and supports BS8500 specifications. For housebuilders, this means they can continue using proven products with complete confidence in their compliance and environmental profile.
Importantly, the change to CEM II cement reduces reliance on clinker, which in turn, contributes to reduced embodied carbon.
Packaging: Cutting plastic and raising the bar
Sustainability doesn’t stop with the product itself. Packaging plays a key role in waste generation, especially on construction sites. Plastic remains one of the most prominent culprits, with up to 34% of construction waste linked to packaging materials.
Tarmac has taken a leadership role in reducing plastic usage. We were the first cement manufacturer in the UK to introduce 50% recycled plastic bags for our packed products, and we’re currently trialling solutions to reach fully recycled alternatives.
In line with the UK government’s Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), introduced in 2023, we’re going beyond compliance. Our aim is a net-zero packaging solution within the next few years, minimising waste and reducing reliance on virgin plastic in every bag.
Placement: Optimising transport and delivery
Getting cement to site efficiently and sustainably is another critical area for us to focus on. We are working across our supply chain to reduce road miles and prioritise low carbon transport.
Where feasible, we’re shifting deliveries from road to rail, significantly lowering carbon emissions. In our Packed Products business, smarter logistics planning and closer collaboration with hauliers have helped increase load fill rates by around 10%. This has already removed approximately 1,400 lorry journeys from the roads each year.
We are also encouraging hauliers to transition to alternative fuels and adopt new efficiency technologies. Coupled with innovations in pallet circularity – reusing and recycling delivery pallets rather than discarding them – these efforts contribute to a cleaner, leaner logistics network.
A legacy of leadership
With 125 years of history behind it, Blue Circle remains one of the most recognisable and trusted cement brands in the UK. But rather than resting on tradition, we’re focused on helping housebuilders and developers meet the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow.
As we continue our journey to net zero, we recognise that the future of construction is a collaborative one. Cement manufacturers, housebuilders, government bodies, and consumers must work together to deliver carbon-conscious homes and infrastructure.
Tarmac Blue Circle is committed to supporting customers through this transition. Our website provides technical data, guidance, and sustainability insights for professionals across the built environment. To learn more, visit www.tarmac-bluecircle.co.uk.