Aggregate Industries has been rebranded to Holcim UK as part of a broader strategic shift towards giving clients more 'seamless access to the latest sustainable building solutions'.
Following 20 years as a UK-based subsidiary of Holcim Group, the new direction sees the business align more closely with its Swiss-based parent company.
Holcim UK said its strategic focus now centres around 'leading the mission to make sustainable construction a reality, focusing on decarbonisation, nature, circularity and innovation'.
The industry giant has more than 20 brands uniting under Holcim UK, with over 200 sites and 4,000 employees across the country. It is committed to reaching net zero by 2040 across these operations, as well as driving positive change in the market.
Holcim UK revealed that currently a third of its turnover comes from sustainable products and it is aiming to continue to increase this in the next five years.
This agenda has already seen the launch of product ranges such as ECOPact low carbon readymix concrete, ECOPlanet range of low carbon cement, and its ECOCycle range of products, which are made from at least 10% recycled materials.
The consolidation and new strategy come as the highways sector faces the challenge of supporting National Highways’ target of reaching net zero associated emissions by 2040.
Kevin Murgatroyd, managing director for contracting at Holcim UK told Highways: 'You see lots of industries that don't manage well over a period of time because they don't evolve and adapt to the environment they're in.
'We're a forward-thinking business and we want to make a better world, basically. So it's about creating that sustainable future for ourselves. As Holcim Group, we are aiming for net zero by 2040 and that aligns with National Highways' plans. But 15 years can come around quickly. So we've just got to keep the focus on it.'
Key to achieving net zero will be circular product innovation through construction demolition materials (CDM), Holcim revealed that it had targeted an increase of CDM used in products from two million tonnes to more than five million tonnes by 2030.
This focus on circularity has seen recent acquisitions of CDM specialist companies Land Recovery and Sivyer, in addition to innovations such as neustark – the technology which permanently locks carbon removed from the atmosphere into processed demolished concrete for new products.
Other initiatives include the Holcim Sustainable Construction Academy, which offers free CPD-certified courses on low-carbon, circular and regenerative design concepts, developed with top global institutions and architecture firms.
Lee Sleight, CEO of Holcim UK, said: 'Our evolution from Aggregate Industries to Holcim UK is much more than a rebrand. It represents a commitment to leading the sector towards a more sustainable future through a commitment to innovation and collaboration.
'By uniting under one coherent brand, we can focus on driving sustainable growth for our business and many customers and suppliers we have formed strong partnerships with over the years. Key to this will be our ongoing prioritisation of people, purpose and performance to achieve our ambitious revenue and sustainability growth targets.
'Through taking on the global brand, we can leverage Holcim Group’s global presence and the innovative solutions it has brought to a variety of different markets.'
To mark the establishment of its new brand, Holcim UK has launched two initiatives to drive sustainability awareness.
The first is a 'Sustaina-billboard' – an environmentally-friendly billboard containing pollinating flowers, plants and seeds to support local wildlife, with a surrounding frame made from low carbon concrete and recycled aggregate materials. These will be in place across more than 200 sites by the end of the year.
Holcim UK has also released a new report Making Sustainable Construction a Reality – exploring decarbonisation, circular economy and waste reduction, smart construction, people and communities, and nature and biodiversity.
