Ibstock, the manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products in the UK, has reiterated its pledge to reduce plastic use by 40% by 2025.
It is just one of the many commitments the group has made as part of its Sustainability Roadmap to 2025 that align with the theme of Earth Day – Restore the Earth.
Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental movement. Organised by EARTHDAY.ORG, its vision is to see sectors accountable for their role in the environmental crisis, while calling for bold, creative and innovative solutions from businesses through to national government.
Delivering sustainable performance is a priority for Ibstock and its roadmap sets out the company’s environmental vision and priorities whilst communicating clear targets and ambitions.
To help meet its target of reducing its use of preventable plastic packaging, Ibstock is seeking to remove at least 200 tonnes of plastic shrink wrap from across the Group by the end of 2021 – the equivalent of 8.3 million soft drinks bottles.
Under the stewardship of its Plastic Taskforce, the group has introduced a number of initiatives. Following successful trials to reduce shrink wrap thickness by up to 30%, the programme has been rolled out across the Group’s manufacturing sites, which has had a significant impact on plastic consumption.
It is just one of the many initiatives undertaken by the Group, as it seeks to minimise its impact on the environment. As a further example, at the beginning of 2021, the company announced it was the first building products manufacturer to procure 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, accelerating its journey to net-zero. And across its estate, the organisation is careful to restore land once minerals have been extracted whilst paying due care and attention to the surrounding habitat through biodiversity action plans.
Recognising that everybody has a role to play, every level within the business is expected to integrate sustainability ambitions into their work. Ibstock has introduced initiatives such as the Listening Post and Lunch & Learn sessions as mechanisms for increased engagement, with action on climate change raised as a key focus.
Joe Hudson, chief executive officer of Ibstock, said: “We are committed to the world we leave for the next generation. The initiatives we have undertaken to date are a step forward in realising our Sustainability Roadmap ambitions, whilst helping meet global climate targets.
“Engagement of our people at every stage is key to our success, as it allows us to have a collaborative response to the challenges we face. As we work towards being the most sustainable manufacturer of clay and concrete products, we must show clear leadership and do all we can to drive change and reduce our impact on the natural world.”
