Britain’s concrete producers have joined forces in one association to represent the industry and accelerate its journey to beyond net zero carbon emissions.
British Precast, whose members include manufacturers of concrete masonry, paving slabs, structural sections and drainage systems, has merged with the Mineral Products Association (MPA) which represents all the UK’s cement makers, over 90% of aggregates producers and more than 70% of ready-mixed concrete suppliers.
The merger gives the British concrete industry a single voice, with the sector’s advocacy vehicle – UK Concrete – driving forward a common agenda to set the record straight about concrete’s role in sustainable construction and address the challenges of climate change.
The UK concrete and cement industry has already reduced absolute carbon emissions by 53% since 1990 – faster than any other sector of the economy – and the merger will unite the sector behind its ambitious ‘Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero’ by 2050.
Concrete is the only structural material whose raw ingredients are sourced from within the UK and, over the whole life of a building, concrete outperforms the alternatives economically and environmentally.
Nigel Jackson CEO of Mineral Products Association said: “This is a landmark moment in the evolution of the UK concrete industry which is already a global leader in terms of decarbonisation, recycling and biodiversity enhancement. Now more than ever the concrete industry must work hand-in-glove to promote the essential role this amazing and under-appreciated material plays in our economy and our quality of life. Mitigating the industry’s environmental impacts whilst delivering solutions that help people to adapt to climate change is an important balance to be struck. With the entire sector united and pulling in the same direction we are better able to achieve our shared goals.”
Alan Smith, who retires as President of British Precast, said: “British Precast has been affiliated with the Mineral Products Association for the past decade and the successful relationship we have built has given our members the confidence to fully support this merger. Coming together enables the industry to operate more strategically, rejuvenating our determination to rise to the challenges of climate change and emphasise the importance of our industry in climate adaptation.”
Two new MPA product groups have been formed as a result of the merger – MPA Precast and MPA Masonry. Along with existing MPA product groups, especially The Concrete Centre and BRMCA, the combined trade association has unparalleled breadth and wealth of concrete expertise.
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Image supplied by Cornish Concrete Products Ltd.
About the Mineral Products Association:
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and silica sand industries. With the merger of British Precast, and affiliation of the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR), Eurobitume, MPA Northern Ireland, MPA Scotland and the British Calcium Carbonate Federation, it has a growing membership of 520 companies and is the sectoral voice for mineral products. MPA membership is made up of the vast majority of independent SME quarrying companies throughout the UK, as well as the 9 major international and global companies. It covers 100% of UK cement and lime production, 90% of GB aggregates production, 95% of asphalt and over 70% of ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete production. In 2018, the industry supplied £16 billion worth of materials and services to the Economy. It is also the largest supplier to the construction industry, which had annual output valued at £172 billion in 2018. Industry production represents the largest materials flow in the UK economy and is also one of the country’s largest manufacturing sectors. www.mineralproducts.org.
About MPA Precast:
MPA Precast is the trade association for precast concrete manufacturers and members of the supply chain. The organisation has a growing membership of over 60 precast concrete manufacturer members, and more than 100 supply chain organisations. The roots of the association go back to 1918 but it was in 1964 that the British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd was formed to bring together the Cast Stone & Concrete Federation and the British Cast Concrete Federation. In 2011, British Precast formed an affiliation with the Mineral Products Association.
For media enquiries, contact Elizabeth Clements at: Elizabeth.Clements@mineralproducts.org ; tel: 07775 894 285.