Sustainability
At Northstone Materials, we recognise that our tradition and heritage come with a responsibility to protect our planet and enhance the lives of our people for generations.
I am extremely proud of our achievements to-date, but I recognise that there is a need for Northstone Materials to do more. Operating in one of the most carbon intensive industries, we understand our critical role in fighting climate change, not only for ourselves, but for our grandchildren.
As a crucial element of local, national, and international supply chains, we are determined to play our part in decarbonising the built environment and infrastructure of the future. Recognising our social, moral, and legal duties to act now, we will work tirelessly alongside our supply chain partners and customers to deliver sustainable excellence.
Darren McMillan – Managing Director, Northstone Materials
SUSTAINABILITY & OUR BUSINESS
As a member of the CRH Group, we aim to become a leader in sustainable building materials. We are uniquely placed to leverage our extensive product range and skilled people to play an important role in shaping a more sustainable built environment.
This commitment extends to embedding sustainability practices in all facets of our operations and ensuring sustainability is at the heart of the work we are undertaking. The ongoing climate crisis has made it essential for us to respond and to adapt our current and future ways of working. The ‘Breakthrough Projects’ section below details the many projects and products Northstone Materials has developed to demonstrate our commitment to embedding sustainability practices.
SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK & TARGETS
The CRH Group are leaders in responding to the global call to action on climate change, evidenced by their commitment to achieving a 30% reduction in absolute group-wide carbon emissions by 2030 (2021 baseline) and reaching net zero emissions by 2050. In early 2023, the SBTi validated CRH’s 2022 revised targets in line with the updated 1.5°C science-based framework.
Northstone Materials have developed a Scope 1 and Scope 2 decarbonization roadmap to 2030 as part of the CRH targets. Within this roadmap we are committed to reducing absolute gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2021 absolute base year, an important milestone of our strategy towards achieving our ambition to be net-zero by 2050.
At Northstone Materials, our overarching targets will set out our ambition for our future operations. In line with the wider CRH group, our priority areas are Decarbonization, Circularity, and Water. We aim to reflect and build upon these key areas to encompass the full spectrum of sustainability including social and economic activities, such as enhancement of social value and biodiversity through our actions. We will strive for constant improvement across our organisation and undertake continual monitoring and review of these and future targets to ensure they reflect our goals and visions for the company, and that measures to meet targets are being carried out.
We also recognise the synergies between our own pillars which focuses on Empowered Talent, Customer Connected, Focused Growth and Sustainability Leadership. We recognise that sustainability should become integral to everything that we do. As a result, our sustainability goals fall under our five pillars, which are specific to our own business activities, and will become embedded in the day-to-day running and strategic planning of our business.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Our approach is founded on the principles of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs comprise of 17 goals which integrate economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
We operate across areas that contribute to achieving all SDGs, however, in line with CRH, and because of our industry and the work we do, we have prioritised the following 7 SDGs as being the areas where we have, and will continue to have, the most impact for the built environment.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY
Our aim is to lead sustainable activities in our market by committing to and instilling sustainable practices such as circular economy principles, low carbon, and low energy solutions into the work we carry out. We recognise that engaging and responding to the needs and expectations of our clients and the wider industry is a key priority, while also ensuring to align to CRH ambition, government policy and the overall shift in societal views of sustainable activities and climate change.
As advocates for the change in our industry’s response to the climate crisis, our commitment to sustainable practices has driven continuous improvements, and research and innovation across our operations and the work that we do.
Over the past years, we have made significant progress to further embed all aspects of sustainability into our organisation and the work we do. In 2008, a state-of-the-art roof tile production facility was commissioned in Toome and it was decided a gravity fed rainwater harvesting system would be included. Northstone Materials wanted to set a pioneering example and lead the charge in innovative water infrastructure solutions. Since then, we have reduced our freshwater usage by 4,000 cubic metres per annum. The subsequent reduced demand for municipal water over the past 15 years has had many environmental, social, and financial benefits.
In 2021,10,000 trees were directly hand planted onto 5 hectares of land at one of our locations. The species mix was carefully selected to appeal to pollinators and local species to increase the biodiversity of the area.
To continue our journey toward sustainability, we have taken proactive measures at our production facility in Toome by installing a 232 kWp Solar PV System on its roof. The solar PV panels are expected to produce 180 MWh per annum, enough to power over 50 homes in Northern Ireland, and considerably reduce the tile factory’s reliance on the electricity grid.
In summer 2023, we developed a 2030 CO2 Roadmap to help guide us on our sustainability journey and meet our ambitious Scope 1 and 2 emission reduction targets.
As part of our 2030 targets we have commenced formally tracking the progress of ongoing sustainability projects across the company to quantify our emission reductions on a monthly and annual basis. We also track the progress of non-carbon related projects that relate to biodiversity, water, and wellbeing to ensure we encompass each aspect of our sustainability framework.
As of 2024, we have a total of 38 active sustainability projects – including a number of Sustainable Solution R&D projects.
Our work to date is setting the precedent and foundation to continue achieving real and lasting results from embedding sustainability in what we do; we aim to replicate and scale-up this action into 2024 and beyond. Northstone Materials want to contribute to the sustainable transformation of built environment and infrastructure of the future, whilst ensuring that our people, our communities, and our natural environment benefit from our existence as a company.
BREAKTHROUGH PROJECTS
For us at Northstone Materials, we will immediately begin to take action. We have identified a number of breakthrough projects which will act as key enablers for the realisation of our ambitious commitments. A breakthrough project is an initiative that has a stretch and quantifiable goal.
The breakthrough goal represents the accomplishment of an unprecedented and is key to the achievement of our ambition. We have introduced our seven breakthrough projects below which cover all areas of our operations. Over the coming months, we will mobilise these projects and begin our sustainable transformation in earnest.
For more information or to request a Carbon Footprint Report or EPD contact sustainability@northstone-ni.com
Carbon Management Plan – Carbon management plan in place delivering tangible reductions in line with the efficiency hierarchy. This plan will focus on achieving a 42% net reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions from a 2021 baseline by 2030 formed from the Science Based Targets Initiative. It will also develop a comprehensive understanding of major contributors to Northstone Materials’ emissions.
Community Impacts and Partnerships Baselining – Undertake baselining activity to identify overall community engagement and identify interventions/focus areas for targeted improvements whilst ensuring the organisation can accurately measure the societal impact derived from its community initiatives and partnerships. Annual reaccreditation of the BitC Business Working Responsibly mark will also be managed through this project.
Data Capture and Performance Hubs – Development of data capture tools and data mapping processes to streamline data capture and reporting across priority areas such as energy usage. Implement performance hubs and prioritised problem solving to address problem areas.
Employee Satisfaction & Wellbeing Baselining – Undertake baselining activity to identify overall employee satisfaction and identify interventions/focus areas for targeted improvements.
Energy Review – Identify highest energy consumers and suitable efficiency/intensity interventions with training and implementation plans for the short and long run.
Life Cycle Assessments/Environmental Product Declarations – Complete EPDs for core products following LCA standards. Through sensitivity analysis, identify potential pilot projects focusing on carbon reduction.
Waste Management Review – Undertake a commercial and environmental review of waste streams, types, and disposal outlets (including by-products, e.g., silt or dust) with an action plan identified for improvements focusing on commercial and circular economy principles.
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