Sustainability - Sustainable production

Use of natural resources

Cement is manufactured principally by heating chalk or limestone to very high temperatures. This means the industry operates quarries and uses large amounts of energy, which use natural resources. To minimise the impact of its quarries on a locality, the industry manages its operations responsibly and restores them to an appropriate use sympathetic to the local environment.

All cement quarries have restoration plans agreed with their local authorities and restoration takes place on a progressive basis rather than at the end of its active life.

The industry also seeks waste products that it can safely use to replace virgin raw materials.

It also uses processed wastes as fuel for its kilns, radically reducing the amount of fossil fuels it needs.

MPA members follow a strict code of practice when replacing fossil fuels with processed waste. This code of practice is available for download here.