Industry collaborates to give concrete a green makeover

Senior members of the concrete industry have met to thrash out ways of working together on an industry-wide strategy to promote the sustainability credentials of concrete and speak with one voice on key industry issues.

Privately, top industry figures are concerned that concrete is falling behind steel and timber in the sustainability debate and they believe a co-ordinated strategy is required to reverse perceptions.

The meeting, held at the end of July, was attended by some 40 senior industry bosses from across the concrete sector alongside representatives from the Concrete Centre, British Cement Association, Quarry Products Association and British Precast Concrete Federation.

One representative told CJ: "It was a productive meeting. Sustainability of concrete is the main discussion point, it being so high on the agenda.

"There was a broad understanding that there are issues we need to agree on and be joined up in our proposal, although there is a large breadth of people with disparate interests."

One possibility is the creation of the UK Concrete Platform, an umbrella organisation designed to represent the interests of the entire concrete industry and exert greater influence in Westminster.

Despite some resistance, there was a collective understanding that some of the sustainability issues cross the traditional boundaries between precast, ready-mix, aggregate and cement suppliers, although a united approach is unlikely without significant compromise.

Another attendee said: "If we're going to successfully promote our sustainability credentials, everyone must work together to make sure we are not duplicating or missing anything out.

"At the moment we're just seeing where we can co-operate effectively. The chances of creating one association out of this are pretty slim, but co-ordination between organisations should be possible."