Hanson UK has registered increases in the use of alternative raw materials – mainly pulverized fuel ash – in its cement production activities. In 2016, the company registered a substitution rate of 12.2% alternative raw materials, compared to 11.6% in 2015 and 11.8% in 2014.
Meanwhile, the use of alternative cementitious materials by Hanson UK’s ready-mixed concrete business also continued its upward trend.
“The cement replacement, Regan (ground granulated blastfurnace slag) reduced CO2 in concrete and provides a number of the benefits,” the company said in its Sustainability 2017 report. “It’s use in ready-mixed concrete means we have one of the highest cement replacement rates in the UK market.”
Hanson is targeting a cement replacement rate in its ready-mixed concrete of 45% by 2020. In 2016, it recorded a replacement rate of 38.9% - and increase on last year’s 37.0% but is not too much higher than the company’s 2010 baselines of 38.4%.
“We are working towards our target of 45% cement replacement by 2020, and developing more mixes with higher Regen content,” the company added. “We are also communicating the CO2 benefits of these products to customers and specifiers through a national programme of courses.”