Tarmac newsletter: Issue 2

Product, contract and innovation update
Welcome to the second issue of the Tarmac newsletter. This is a quarterly publication where we feature exciting projects that we are working on, show you useful tools that we have developed, pass on latest industry information and much more.

Tell us what you think and let us know if you need more information on any of the products and services featured in this edition.

Open publication - Free publishing - More asphalt

Innovations newsletter Winter 2011/11

Read through our interactive brochure on the latest innovations from Tarmac . . .

Answers to your Sustainability questions to us

Dr Martyn Kenny, our director of Sustainability, answers your Sustainability questions on what's happening at Tarmac. 

Where did Tarmac start out when looking to create their Sustainability report and what would you suggest to an SME who has started the Sustainability journey and thinking about creating their first Sustainability report.

By Anonymous on Tarmac’s Sustainability Surgery 11/11/11

The first thing to think about is what sustainability means for your organisation and for your stakeholders. This means of all the sustainability issues, identifying those which are of most importance and relevance for your company. Often this process is helped by taking views from customers, suppliers, employees, local communities, shareholders, regulators, NGOs and others. This process will help determine the key priorities which you should manage and report on to meet your stakeholder’s expectations. These key priorities help define where you should focus your efforts, your policies, objectives and targets and the actions you will take to drive improvement.

Your Sustainability report allows you to communicate your progress with your stakeholder audience and demonstrate that you have a clear strategy that allows people to see where you want to be and how you’re performing.

I’d recommend you review the many types of Sustainability Reports that others produce. Don’t limit yourself to your own market – look to best practice in other sectors, as they’ll often provide helpful ideas and speak with companies that you have good relationships with to see what insight they can offer.

It’s important take account of the budget and resource you have available, bearing in mind stakeholder expectations. You also need to decide whether you want to align your report with the good practice Global Reporting Index (GRI). Even if you don’t go for full GRI certification, it’s worth looking at their website for details of the kind of things to cover and ensure the report is transparent (http://www.globalreporting.org).

Data is a vital element of your report, so, as a first step, you need to make sure you are collecting the appropriate information in the correct format. You need to consider format too. Will the report be hardcopy, electronic or HTML? HTML is certainly where most of the best reporting companies are at. If it’s online, will it be housed on a separate microsite, or will it sit within your website? What will it look like visually? What writing style will you use? Do you have the relevant images? Will your customers and stakeholders expect to see a printed summary? How are you going to distribute your report – both internally to employees, and externally to your customers and key stakeholders?

There is certainly a lot to think about and key to it all is careful planning and setting of key delivery milestones.

Why are we trying to reduce carbon emissions in the UK when (as I have recently read) world powers such as China & America have rising levels of CO₂?
Larger countries (in terms of emissions per person) pollute far greater. Should there be 'cap' or limit imposed on all countries? However, would this be fair on smaller developing countries whose impact upon rising emissions is negligible in comparison to the large industrialised powers?

By Anonymous on Tarmac’s Sustainability Surgery on 14/11/11

I think the phrase ‘think global, act local’ is pertinent here. You are right, in that many countries outside of the UK and EU do not work to the same environmental standards and the UK, or indeed Europe, cannot solve this global issue alone. Whilst developed nations are responsible for much of the emissions to date, there are many rapidly developing nations adding to the problem.

We must allow countries to develop but in such a way that carbon emissions are managed effectively and best available technologies and practices are employed to minimise them. Everyone needs to make a fair effort. The varied interests of nations and their different stages of development is a key barrier to progress. How to overcome this is an issue politicians are struggling with. In fact, talks are taking place this week at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP17 in Durban this week. A series of targets or ‘caps’ and a carbon trading mechanism is one solution but not one that is currently acceptable to all.

It is important that the UK plays its role and works towards a more carbon-efficient industry and a lower carbon economy. The UK has established a leadership position in the targets it has set itself and is recognised for doing so. The UK and Europe are using a range of legislative drivers which add cost to companies using electricity or fuels as a way of incentivising energy efficiency. However, it’s important that in legislating to reduce carbon that we do not add too much cost and unfairly disadvantage UK manufacturing to the extent that it becomes cheaper to manufacture these products overseas, in countries which do not carry the same costs of carbon legislation. This is commonly called ‘carbon leakage’. This means there will be an increase in carbon emissions because goods would need to be transported further and could impact UK GDP and result in the loss of jobs.

Do you compare your biodiversity gains against other companies or against national targets and if so are the figures available? Also another quick question if I may: Are you engaged with the Nature after Minerals project?

By Dan Wrench on Tarmac’s Sustainability Surgery on 17/11/11

Tarmac was the first company in our industry to have Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) in place at all our active quarries, and we’re really proud of this fact. Each BAP is site-specific and is typically developed with an independent ecologist to ensure it is meaningful and relevant to the local area.

One benefit of this approach is to ensure that our BAPs are aligned with regional and UK BAP targets – we report annually on our biodiversity performance in our sustainability report (www.tarmac.co.uk/sustainability). This information is also submitted to our trade association Mineral Products Association (MPA) who report on the industry’s combined performance and the achievements made in terms of biodiversity.

UK biodiversity loss is a growing concern, but the mineral industry has a long legacy of high quality restoration and biodiversity enhancement, and is uniquely placed to contribute to the Government’s biodiversity targets. In delivering our BAPs, we also work with a range of organisations – such as the RSPB, BTO and local Wildlife Trusts – to deliver against our biodiversity commitments, to learn and to share best practice. The RSPB estimates that the aggregates industry could, on its own, deliver UK biodiversity targets for nine out of 11 priority habitats.

To answer your second question yes we are engaged with the Nature after Minerals project – and sites such as our Ballidon Quarry and Langford Lowfields are good examples of this work.

This year, we were proud to win the Cooper-Heyman cup at the annual MPA Restoration and Biodiversity awards for our work to restore reed beds with the RSPB at Bellmoor and Lound quarries in Nottinghamshire. In the North-East, we have the Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark at all of our quarries in Northumberland. We have a longstanding relationship with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT), and recently helped them to celebrate their 40^th anniversary by handing over a jointly run nature reserve at Broadoak quarry to the NWT at an event attended by Chris Packham, who is patron of the Wildlife Trust.

Have you ever investigated the option of growing floating rafts of Sphagnum moss in the large deep pools created in hard rock quarry sites with the aim of providing interesting habitat and eventually filling the void with peat? Carbon sequestration and habitat gain in one go. You could also consider harvesting the Sphagnum and selling it to the horticultural trade.

By Dan Wrench on space Tarmac’s Sustainability Surgery 17/11/11

This is a good question. I am aware of some of the research taking place in this area but it’s not something that we’ve ever implemented at any sites. All of our sites must have comprehensive restoration plans as part of their planning consent. Open bodies of water, and pools, are often part of these restoration plans, so such a scheme would need to be outlined within our restoration and biodiversity plans at an early stage.

As always, safety would be our number one concern here – would covering up water bodies with a surface of moss make them more dangerous? Sometimes, the quarrying industry can have an issue with trespass, so we’d need to assess and get advice on whether a surface of moss might give people the false impression of a solid surface, and make rescuing anyone more difficult?

I’m not 100% sure of the viability of harvesting it – I haven’t explored this in detail but we would need to grow significant amounts to make it commercially viable, and we would have to look at when this crop could be harvested so that it did not conflict with quarry operations or put anyone in danger. I’d be interested to get any thoughts on this.

@TarmacLtd using hydrogen powered vehicles on quarry trial wonder how it will compare with traditional and fuelling? http://www.aggbusiness.com/articles/business-news/tarmacs-hydrogen-vehicle-first-3359/?key=3322

25/11/11 - Twitter

PHaddock

Tarmac has just completed a trial of a hydrogen powered vehicle at our Cavenham site in the south east. It’s not a quarry vehicle; it’s a van that we used to drive between local sites and we were interested to understand the potential for this technology. We are the first in our sector to look at this. The trial used an on site unit to convert electricity and water into hydrogen. For the technology to be zero carbon it would need to be connected to a renewable source of electricity.  The trial has only just been completed and we are pulling together all of the findings, so I’m not in a position to report back at the moment. However, the performance of the vehicle during the trial was great and it continued to perform all of its normal duties without a problem. The results of the trial will help us to make informed decisions about our fleet in the future. Watch this space!

In addition to hydrogen power, we’re also looking at electric vans, and have another trial in place with a client in the Midlands.

We’re always looking at ways to reduce our carbon output - so far, we’ve managed to cut our specific CO₂ emissions across our business by 11% since 2004. This focus includes looking ways to reduce emissions from transport activities. So, as well as ensuring our plant and vehicles have the most efficient engines, training drivers in fuel efficient driving techniques and using our nationwide presence to deliver logistical efficiency, we are exploring many other ways to reduce carbon, as well as looking for opportunities to increase the amount of material we transport by rail and water.

If you have any experience of these kinds of efficient transport technologies, I’d be interested to hear your views.

What is Tarmac doing to reduce CO₂?

We are doing a lot across our whole business to cut CO_2. We focus on the areas over which we have most control, and that deliver the greatest whole-life sustainability benefits. Our strategy is to continually cut CO₂ form our operations and products, improve our energy efficiency and help our customers do the same. 

To date, we have reduced our specific energy consumption by 15% and our specific CO₂ emissions by 11%. We’re also proud to have gained the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of our monitoring, management and reduction of CO₂ emissions.

We’ve achieved this through a comprehensive carbon management programme. This includes investing in efficient manufacturing operations, using waste derived fuels like tyre chips, switching to lower carbon fuels, energy surveys, best practice benchmarking, staff training, setting individual plant targets and improvement programmes, using recycled materials, and many other things.

To find out more about the work we are doing see our Sustainability Report on Climate Change: http://www.tarmac.co.uk/sustainability/climate-change.

I want to know the carbon footprint of products and how can I cut down on the CO₂ produced. Can you help?

Tarmac has launched a new Carbon Footprint Calculator.  This means we can provide a ‘cradle to gate’ carbon ‘quote’ for any product from any of our UK sites. ‘Cradle-to-gate’ means that the footprint includes CO₂ emitted from extracting, processing, manufacturing and transporting the product and the materials used to make it. We can also help with carbon footprints of our National Contracting road maintenance activities.

We are able to help customer’s measure and manage the carbon footprint of their projects. For those who are interested, the methodology used complies with PAS 2050 the recognised standard for carbon footprint measurement and aligns with the Highways Agency asPECT tool.

This is part of our overall value added offering to our customers.  For more information about the product carbon calculator visit http://www.tarmac.co.uk/cfc

What is Tarmac doing to address more recycling of construction materials?

We’re one of the leading suppliers of recycled aggregates in the UK.  Last year we produced 1.5 million tonnes, manufactured in accordance with the WRAP Quality Protocol. We make recycled aggregates from inert construction, demolition and excavation wastes at about 40 recycling hubs around the UK.

Wherever possible, we try to use recycled materials in our products. This means we can provide high quality, value for money, lower carbon products to our customers. It also means we can help our customers contribute to the Government’s sustainable construction objectives.

We’re investing extensively in our asphalt operations to further increase the amount of Reclaimed Asphalt Planings (RAP) and other recycled materials incorporated in our products. When roads surfaces come to the end of their life they can be planned and the material used to make new asphalt surfaces. In products like our FoamMaster we use up to 90% of recycled materials. Over 70% of our ready-mixed concrete mixes contain secondary materials as cement replacements and we can also use recycled aggregates in our concrete mixes when appropriate. We also beneficially use about 240,000 tonnes of waste as raw materials and fuels for our cement plant at Buxton.

Read more on what we’re doing at: http://www.tarmac.co.uk/sustainability/natural-resources-environment/efficient-use/recycled-materials.html

Tarmac and Lafarge are merging soon – why is there a need to look at Sustainability now?

Sustainability is not a new thing for us and is simply part to the way we do business.

Anglo American and Lafarge have made a Joint Venture application to merge their UK businesses - Tarmac and Lafarge UK. The Competition Commission is in the process of looking at this application. It’s by no means a done deal, so we must not make any assumptions. Until any decision is made, Lafarge and Tarmac will continue to operate as separate, competitive companies.

Being a sustainable business makes good sense, ethically, environmentally and financially. We have been committed to tackling sustainability issues for many years and see it as essential to the long term success of our business. No matter what the future of our business sustainability will remain a key issue for us, our customers and our other stakeholders, so it would be illogical to do anything other than continue to deliver on our strategies and improvement plans,

For any more questions you may have on Sustainability at Tarmac, please send them to Dr Kenny and the Tarmac Sustainability team by emailing: sustainability@tarmac.co.uk.

Sustainability blog has now closed

The Sustainability blog has now closed.  Thank you for your questions!
Answers will be posted here next Friday 2 December.

If you still have any questions about Sustainabily at Tarmac please email us at: sustainability@tarmac.co.uk.

Did you know you can get the carbon footprint for any Tarmac product or service?
See more about the Carbon Footprint Calculator service at: www.tarmac.co.uk/cfc 

space

Tarmac’s Sustainability Surgery now open

We're always looking at ways to improve against our targets in areas like sustainable products, saving carbon and biodiversity.

Dr Martyn Kenny,
Tarmac's director of Sustainability

So, we’re inviting you to pose questions to Dr Martyn Kenny, our director of Sustainability, on what's happening in Tarmac. 

This blog will be open from now until 5pm on 24 November. 

Dr Kenny will then answer your questions on our blog on 1 December.

Post your question to us in the comment box below.

Take a look at our interactive gallery for our coloured tarmac range

What do you think of our Mastertint image gallery?

See all the Mastertint coloured tarmac range. There are 14 colours. If there is a colour you don't see that you would like for your project email us at: mastertint@tarmac.co.uk.

Carbon Footprint calculator

We’re serious about managing and reducing the carbon footprint of our products and our business, and helping our customers to do the same. Tarmac has developed the industry’s first, comprehensive Carbon Footprint calculator.

It enables us to give customers the carbon impact of any Tarmac product, from any site. Not just carbon from manufacturing processes, but a complete, transparent cradle-to-gate carbon calculation.

Our Carbon Footprint calculator helps customers to:

• Understand the carbon impact of the products they’re buying


• Actively seek lower carbon product options


• Manage carbon in their supply chain

See more on the Carbon Footprint Calculator to find out how to get a comprehensive carbon calculation.

Hear Tarmac Ltd CEO Terry Last talk about Sustainability

To read the new 2010/11 Sustainability Report go to www.tarmac.co.uk/sustainability

Do you think that Tarmac is showing leadership in Sustainability?
Do you feel that we are making progress against key challenges?

Ask the Tarmac Sustainability team a question…

Innovations newsletter August 2011

Read through our interactive brochure on the latest innovations from Tarmac . . .

Open publication - Free publishing - More mastertint

Tarmac's 2010 Sustainability Report launched

Tarmac has launched its 2010/11 Sustainability Report, showing the progress the company has made against its Sustainability Framework targets over the past year.
To date, Tarmac has:

• Cut specific CO2 emissions by 11 per cent since 2004


• 92 per cent reduction in waste sent to licensed disposal since 2004 and is now a net user of waste


• 100 per cent of its products independently certified as responsibly sourced


• 28 per cent reduction in potable water used per unit of concrete and mortar production since 2004

To read the new 2010/11 Sustainability Report go to www.tarmac.co.uk/sustainability

What do you think of Tarmac’s sustainability framework?
Do you feel Tarmac communicates its sustainability initiatives enough?
Ask the Tarmac Sustainability team a question…

Sustainability report 2010/11

Here at Tarmac, Sustainability remains central to our strategy, and is a fundamental part of the way we do business. It underlines our commitment to operating efficiently, safely and ethically, with the utmost care for the environment, our employees, and the communities around our sites. In short: sustainability makes smart business sense.

There's just 1 week to go to the launch of Tarmac’s annual report on Sustainability.
Read more about Tarmac and Sustainability.

Your thoughts on the new Concrete Calculator

With three simple steps you can find out precise measurements that you need! Simple, quick and easy!

The concrete calculator is available on all smart phones and is obtainable through the Tarmac website. This new addition expands Tarmac’s customer awareness and increases the ease at which they can calculate and make a call to order concrete! A great and efficient addition to the Tarmac service.

Would you consider using the Concrete Calculator?

Is the concrete calculator for you?

Anything else you would like to see on the Concrete Calculator?

Write your comment below or email concreteapp@tarmac.co.uk with your thoughts and suggestions.

Mastershield fuel resisting asphalt actively resists attack from fuel, oils, de-icing agents and other corrosives. See more http://bit.ly/opu3un.

What do you think of asphalts that last longer and resist liquid errosion like fuel and water?

Tarmac conquers steep learning curves

When it comes to conquering challenges, the specialist surfacing gang from Tarmac National Contracting that was putting the finishing touches to the new Bournemouth Cycling Centre had a steep curve to tackle, in every sense of the word.

The team, which has proven track record of delivery, having also been responsible for the re-laying of the Mira test track in 1996, drew on its experience of surfacing steep gradients to undertake the new 250-metre cycling track. Tarmac delivered the project in partnership with Raymond Brown, the Hampshire-based contractor.

The new venue, which is funded by British Cycling and Bournemouth Council will also play host to in-line skating and running events and is the first facility of its type to be built in the UK since 1962.

Read the full news story on the Tarmac website.
Find out about our Asphalt surfacing service on our website.

Working with public sector to deliver efficiencies

Tarmac National Contracting is a flexible and innovative service provider, ideally placed to provide a first class service utilising our strength as a national company. We can help you deliver surfacing, civil engineering, planing, traffic management, safety fencing and utility lighting projects.

Later on this month we will be exhibiting at an event hosted by Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM), who support local authorities and partners in their drive to increase efficiency and improve local public services. We will be talking to attendees to explain how we have worked strategically with local authorities to helped bring down road maintenance bills and to improve services. See what we can deliver for you: Tarmac National Contracting

• Are you under pressure from government to reduce your road maintenance bills?


• Do you lack the expertise in house?


• Do you want to work with a company you can trust?


• Do you have similar pressures?

Pose a question to Tarmca National Contracting to see if we can meet your challenges.

Tarmac quiz:

What building material has the best thermal mass properties?

a. Timber

b. Concrete  

c. Clay

Over the sea to . . . Holy Island

Resurfacing at low tide

Northumberland County Council has begun work to resurface part of the causeway linking the Holy Island of Lindisfarne with the mainland. The council is working with Tarmac’s National Contracting division, who first visited Lindisfarne five years ago when they resurfaced one part of the causeway. The asphalt laid then has stood the test of time – and sea - so the council decided to call them in to resurface a second section. The work had to be timed to coincide with lower tides so that the work could take place during daylight.

Richard Hayes, Highways Area Manager at Northumberland County Council said: “Holy Island is a major tourist destination for the North East, and just one of the many spectacular sights on offer in our region. It was really important that any work to the causeway did not affect people’s ability to get across to the island and its Priory. We also needed a contractor that we could trust to get the job completed on a tight deadline and who would also provide value for money for local taxpayers.”

Read the full news story on the Tarmac website

Tarmac Blackhill Quarry For sale by informal tender

Offers by 29 July 2011
Tarmac Blackhill Quarry
Polyphant
Launceston
Cornwall
PL15 7PZ

Hard rock quarry with possible infill and redevelopment potential (subject to planning) located adjacent to the A30. 6 hectares (15 acres) Freehold with vacant possession

For a full description, planning and environmental consents and much more visit www.tarmac.co.uk/blackhill

Achieving the exceptional

In recognition of the importance of Tarmac's employees and the role that everyone has to play in delivering our plans, Tarmac board made a commitment to both a national suggestion scheme and a national employee awards scheme. Key aims of these schemes include; continuously improve our company, promote and share best practice and improve employee productivity. We hope that this helps show our commitment to achieving the exceptional within our industry. Here are two of the nominees:

Jonathan
Multi-product Technician
Tarmac Ballidon quarry

Jonathan’s radical but highly effective solution for filtering Trucal lime meant there was less waste. He suggested using a screen with set aperture widths. This meant that instances of non-conforming product decreased by 96%.

Emma
Internal Sales Coordinator
Retford Regional Officer

Before Emma’s ideas came into play, new Tarmac account holders only received a letter stating their credit limit and account number. Now, they receive a welcome pack including a booklet detailing our product range and key contact number – and a follow-up call one week after the account is opened.



For more information on Careers at Tarmac see our our website: www.tarmac.co.uk/careers.

Tarmac blog asks a question:

When was Tarmac Limited first established?

1. 1903

2. 1978

3. 1988

4. 1898

Mastertint at Liverpool ONE

Hear Chris Lee, Liverpool One project manager, talk about why Mastertint natural gravel coloured tarmac was specified.



Situated within five acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, Chavasse Park is the landscaped area of the Liverpool One retail park. The gardens provide the perfect place within a busy retail centre for people to take time out and relax from a days shopping. The park has already been used to host one-off and seasonal events and is home to the John Lennon memorial statue.
Liverpool ONE development teams worked closely with Tarmac’s special product and technical teams in order to come up with a solution that would fit in with the overall look and feel of the park and retail centre.

The solution chosen was a natural coloured Mastertint using natural aggregates that blended in with the colours used throughout the retail centre. The park now consists of landscaped grassed areas with Mastertint coloured tarmac surface.

Find out more information on Mastertint coloured tarmac