CLIMATE ACTION


OBJECTIVE
Be net zero before 2050
CLIMATE ACTION GOALS
Reduce absolute CO2 emissions across the business by 30% by 2030
Be at the forefront of trialling and implementing low CO2 transport and logistics
Manage climate risk at our sites and use our land assets to deploy nature-based solutions to reduce CO2
Collaborate with policy makers, academia, industry and industrial clusters to develop net zero technologies, solutions and enabling policies
“Reducing carbon emissions requires collaboration, innovation and a commitment to continuous improvement across the construction value chain. At Tarmac, we are focused on developing practical, lower-carbon solutions that support our customers’ sustainability ambitions while helping to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable built environment.”

Jess Tuck, National Technical Director, Tarmac
The impact of climate change and the transition to a zero-carbon society are arguably the most important challenges for our generation. The construction sector accounts for more than 40% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and has a pivotal role to play. As society continues its journey to net zero emissions, we are fully committed to playing our part in delivering carbon neutrality alongside our value chains to support the UK’s net zero target.
CLIMATE ACTION HIGHLIGHTS
Implemented digital innovations to drive carbon reduction
Reduced Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 8%
Renewed our focus on fleet optimisation and innovation

CONTINUING OUR PATH TO NET ZERO

As part of CRH plc, Tarmac continues to advance its decarbonisation efforts in line with the Group’s science-aligned targets. CRH’s 2030 objective, a 30% absolute reduction in CO₂e from a 2021 baseline, remains a key milestone to be a net zero business by 2050. In 2023, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated CRH's targets in line with a 1.5°C trajectory. In 2025, we continued to contribute meaningfully to this collective ambition by accelerating our operational and value chain decarbonisation activities.

By the end of 2025, we achieved an 8% reduction in our Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to our 2021 baseline, driven by continued operational efficiencies, fuel switching and integration of new technologies. Alongside these improvements, we continued to advance work across our broader value chain, taking action to address our Scope 3 emissions. While Scope 3 accounting continues to evolve, our approach is aligned with the GHG Protocol and reflects an increasing focus on key impact areas as our understanding of emissions sources improves and actions progress across the value chain. This marks an important step in addressing lifecycle impacts and demonstrates how we are working more closely with suppliers, partners and customers to reduce embodied carbon in the materials and services we provide.

Learn more about decarbonisation

DRIVING CARBON REDUCTION THROUGH DIGITAL INNOVATION

Digital optimisation is increasingly central to how we are improving the efficiency and carbon performance of our asphalt operations. As part of a programme being rolled out across our plant network, AI powered control systems are being integrated directly into batching equipment to monitor production in real time and recommend adjustments that help reduce energy use, minimise waste and maintain consistent mix quality. These insights allow operatives to make smarter, faster decisions that support lower carbon manufacturing while improving overall operational resilience.

Across 2025 and looking forward to 2026, Tarmac is on track to save over 9,000 tCO₂e. This milestone reflects both the strength of the technology and the dedication of our people, and sites such as Cross Green, Clitheroe and Hillwood have delivered exceptional results. Their success is setting a powerful benchmark across the business, as we unlock meaningful environmental benefits and operational excellence by embracing digital innovation.

In parallel, we are modernising burner controls by replacing legacy analogue systems with computer based technology that enables remote access, continuous monitoring, and real time flame adjustment. At Snodland asphalt plant, this upgrade has already reduced fuel use by one litre of LPG per tonne of asphalt, while also improving reliability and providing the flexibility to blend emerging lower carbon fuels as they become available. Together, these enhancements reflect ongoing investment in innovation and technology, helping us decarbonise asphalt production, strengthen site performance, and future proof our operations for the transition to cleaner, more sustainable construction.

SMARTER ENERGY MANAGEMENT AT STEVENAGE

At Stevenage, where our proprietary ULTICOLOUR product is produced in smaller batches that limit the efficiency gains possible in larger‑volume plants, the team identified bitumen heating as a major contributor to overall energy use. By introducing remote‑controlled temperature management technology, operatives can now manage heaters aligned to demand and adjust settings in response to changing weather conditions, ensuring energy is not used unnecessarily.

This practical use of digital optimisation has delivered a clear improvement in energy per tonne performance since mid 2025, while also strengthening operational reliability. Alongside complementary upgrades such as LED lighting and other targeted site improvements, the initiative highlights how smarter operational planning, cross site collaboration and accessible digital tools can reduce energy demand and support lower carbon manufacturing.

OPTIMISING FLEET PERFORMANCE FOR LOWER CARBON QUARRYING

We’ve seen outstanding results from a renewed focus on fleet optimisation, identified as a key lever for improving efficiency and reducing emissions across Tarmac’s quarrying operations. At Tunstead Quarry, a fleet optimisation project run from March to December 2025 has realised significant improvements – by analysing real time telematics data, refining haul routes, improving loading patterns and reducing idle time, the project helped the site to move the same amount of material using less fuel, fewer machine hours and more consistent performance.

The approach blended data-driven insights with operator expertise, enabling teams to increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), boost Maximum Observed Capacity (MOC), and reduce carbon emissions without compromising productivity. The project delivered approximately 2,000 tCO₂e savings in 2025, and the team’s commitment to continuous improvement has set a new standard for quarry performance at Tarmac, demonstrating how smart optimisation and strong teamwork can drive both operational excellence and substantial environmental gains.

POWERING UP WITH RENEWABLES

Tarmac is focused on progressing a long term renewables strategy that secures energy supply, increases access to clean power, and reduces reliance on the external grid. We are actively exploring investment in on site renewable technologies, including solar photovoltaics, wind turbines and battery energy storage systems, to strengthen energy resilience and support the transition to lower carbon operations. By expanding our solar capacity and developing solutions that enable greater behind the meter generation, we aim to future proof our sites, improve energy security and maximise the use of renewable electricity across our operations.

EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF LOWER CARBON CONSTRUCTION THROUGH FLEET INNOVATION

A Fleet Demonstration Day at Tarmac’s Tilbury Depot brought together industry leaders to explore the latest lower carbon construction logistics and plant available, showcasing progress made through Sustain Alliance, our joint venture with Holcim UK formed to drive lower carbon innovation across aggregates, readymix concrete, asphalt and paving. The event supported the ambitions of major projects such as the Lower Thames Crossing, partnerships with Balfour Beatty, and offered hands-on access to the technologies that will enable lower carbon delivery at scale.

DELIVERING SCOTLAND'S FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC CONCRETE MIXER

Continued progress in electrifying our logistics fleet saw the expansion of our eMixer Discovery Programme, adding five new electric mixers and building on the pioneering introduction of the UK’s first fully electric concrete mixer in 2022. A standout milestone this year was the arrival of Scotland’s first ever fully electric concrete mixer, now operating across the Central Belt and demonstrating the practical benefits of zero emission deliveries on busy urban routes. This vehicle, one of five now operating nationwide, is helping reduce noise, improve air quality, and support lower carbon construction across the region.

DRIVING PROGRESS TOWARD LOWER CARBON CONSTRUCTION TRANSPORT

Progress towards lower carbon logistics accelerated in 2025 as Tarmac advanced plans to deploy a fleet of electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) capable of transporting cement, asphalt, aggregates and concrete blocks. The fleet will be supported by a new electric charging network that will serve construction and major infrastructure projects across London and the South East. Developed in collaboration with the eFreight 2030 consortium and British charging specialist Voltempo, this network will include high-capacity systems at key Tarmac sites, enabling efficient charging while vehicles load or offload materials, and providing a scalable platform for future zero emission logistics. As part of eFreight 2030, Tarmac will introduce five eHGVs, contributing to a wider national demonstration that will deploy 100 electric HGVs and 32 charging locations across the UK.

These investments build on earlier electrification steps, including our growing electric mixer fleet, and reflect the importance of working closely with industry partners to accelerate the adoption of clean transport technologies. Consistent with our EV100 commitment to transition all company cars and vans to electric by 2030, 84% of our fleet is already electric. Together, these initiatives strengthen our ability to deliver lower carbon, multimodal logistics solutions and support the wider transition toward net zero construction.

COLLABORATING FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT HIGHWAYS

In 2025, Tarmac brought together expertise from across the highways value chain, local authorities, consultants, materials suppliers and contractors, to examine the growing challenge of managing stormwater, pollution and run‑off on our road networks. With climate change and urban growth increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure, the discussions at Interchange 25 highlighted the need for long‑term, sustainable approaches that move beyond short‑term fixes. Participants explored nature‑based drainage, permeable solutions, strategic outfall management, and the importance of designing streets that can withstand future climate conditions.

The event reinforced the critical role of collaboration and early engagement in helping local authorities plan for water related risks, improve asset resilience, and integrate whole life thinking into their maintenance strategies.

RUGBY BOOSTS RAIL-FIRST LOGISTICS

To support more efficient, lower carbon material distribution, Tarmac opened a new rail aggregates depot in Rugby in 2025, transforming a previously unused rail siding into an operational hub. By bringing aggregates into the town by rail and completing only the final delivery by road, the depot reduces long distance HGV movements, strengthens local supply resilience, and improves service to nearby housing, infrastructure and commercial projects. The development forms part of our strategy to increase the use of rail across our logistics network, which reduces emissions, eases road congestion, and supports sustainable construction across the value chain.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CO2e?

Carbon dioxide is one of several greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. Others include methane, nitrous oxide and ozone, many of which occur naturally in the atmosphere. To reflect their combined impact, emissions are expressed as CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), which converts different gases into a common unit based on their global warming potential (GWP). In this report, all references to CO2 relate to CO2e, covering the seven greenhouse gases in the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).”

Tarmac: CO2 emissions by scope
Scope
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 3
Total
1000's tCO2e
1,512
1301,2
6943
1,642
%
64.75%
5.55%
29.70%

1On a location basis our scope 2 emissions are 76,186 tCO2e

2Tarmac is progressing a long-term renewable energy strategy focused on strengthening energy security and increasing access to on-site and directly sourced renewable electricity. As part of this transition, the targeted use of REGOs has been refined to priority locations, reflected in reported Scope 2 emissions.

3Increase in Scope 3 emissions is driven by methodological and boundary changes. Including the adoption of updated Eurobitume guidance, ensuring consistency with industry practice, and the divestment of our lime business.

Tarmac: Direct and indirect CO2 emissions
Fuel
Process emissions
Coal
Electricity
WDF6
Natural Gas
Gas oil
Petcoke
Processed fuel oil
Kerosene
Marine diesel
LPG7
Total
tCO2e
859,924
193,459
129,7074, 5
146,911
85,532
101,001
54,796
7,413
4,968
19,654
38,711
1,642,076
%
52.37%
11.78%
7.90%
8.95%
5.21%
6.15%
3.34%
0.45%
0.30%
1.20%
2.36%

4On a location basis our scope 2 emissions are 76,186 tCO2e

5Tarmac is progressing a long-term renewable energy strategy focused on strengthening energy security and increasing access to on-site and directly sourced renewable electricity. As part of this transition, the targeted use of REGOs has been refined to priority locations, , reflected in reported Scope 2 emissions.

WDF = Waste Derived Fuels
LPG = Liquid Petroleum Gas

Tarmac: Energy use by source (GJ)
Fuel
Coal
Electricity
WDF
Natural Gas
Gas oil
Petcoke
Processed fuel oil
Kerosene
Marine diesel
LPG
Total
Energy use by source (GJ)
2,012,407
1,549,536
3,040,515
1,676,448
1,482,419
578,259
97,626
72,480
274,248
649,651
11,433,589
%
17.60%
13.55%
26.59%
14.66%
12.97%
5.06%
0.85%
0.63%
2.40%
5.68%

WDF = Waste Derived Fuels
LPG = Liquid Petroleum Gas

-
Energy use per production
GJ/t
0.20

LOOKING FORWARD

Investing in, developing and adopting new technologies will remain central to accelerating the decarbonisation of our business and reducing carbon impacts across the full life cycle of our products. Collaboration and close working with our supply chain and partners will remain fundamental to achieving both our own and the wider industry’s net‑zero ambitions and we will look to strengthen these relationships in 2026.

Read more about Sustainability at Tarmac