Ibstock targets net-zero operations by 2040

A strategy will be published in March 2022

Ibstock has kickstarted 2022 by becoming the latest company to commit to reaching net-zero emissions. The new net-zero commitment will originally cover Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with a strategy that encompasses Scope 3 carbon emissions – that account for around 40% of the company’s carbon footprint – to be developed later this year.

Full details of the net-zero commitment will be published alongside annual results in March, but Ibstock has stated that investments in more efficient production processes and projects to offset residual carbon will be introduced.

Ibstock’s chief executive Joe Hudson said: “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.’’

Ibstock has already achieved an existing goal of delivering a 15% reduction in carbon emissions per tonne of production, with a new goal now in place to deliver a 40% reduction by 2030 that will build towards the net-zero commitment.

The company has previously invested more than £115m on decarbonising its factories. Last year, the manufacturer confirmed that its Atlas factory in the West Midlands would act as a “pathfinder project” to trial decarbonisation in line with a net-zero trajectory. According to Ibstock, the Atlas factory will focus on reducing process emissions and improving thermal efficiency to cut the intensity of brick manufacturing. This will deliver a 50% reduction in emissions, with the remaining to be offset. Investments have also been made at the Nostell site while the company also procures 100% of its electrical needs from renewables.

Ibstock Brick’s energy and environment manager Michael McGowan has won an edie Sustainability Leaders Award for the past two years. In 2019, he won the Energy Efficiency award – read up on why here – while in 2020 he was crowned the Energy Management Leader of the Year.

Matt Mace