Sustainability

Leading the way to a sustainable future for our business and the communities we operate in.

Our Commitment

We believe that a first-rate sustainability program isn’t the right way to do business, it’s the only way to do business.

We invest considerably in reducing our environmental impact in a number of ways, such as incorporating recycled materials into our asphalt production, creating programs to support local communities and adding to our growing roster of wildlife habitats on properties nationwide.

Our Environmental Policy

Comply, at a minimum, with all applicable environmental legislation and continually improve our environmental stewardship
Optimize our use of energy and resources through efficiency gains and recycling
Ensure that our employees and contractors respect environmental responsibilities
Promote environmentally driven product and process innovation and new business opportunities
Proactively address the challenges and opportunities of climate change
Be good neighbors in the many communities in which we operate

Our 2022 Performance

In 2022, we continued to make progress in decarbonizing our business, innovating to improve circularity and preserve resources, advancing climate resilience in the built environment and strengthening our inclusive and diverse culture.

Decarbonization

7% year-on-year reduction in absolute carbon emissions

Waste

42.4 m alternative fuels and materials recycled

Water

47% product revenue from products with enhanced sustainability attributes

Natural World

c. 100% of our locations have restoration plans in place

People & Communities

94% incident-free locations

Responsible Business

c. 31,500 CRH employees were trained in our Code of Business Conduct

CRH Sustainability Factsheet 2023

Here are some ways that we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability.

Porous Pavement

In keeping with its commitment to stay on the cutting edge, we install porous pavement, which allows rain to move through asphalt and into a rock layer placed below the pavement.

Warm Mix Asphalt

Asphalt mixtures are critical infrastructure building materials. They consist of a blend of about 95 percent stone and sand, heated and bound together with bituminous asphalt.

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) has been developed to lower the production and placement temperature of traditional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). It reduces energy consumption and plant emissions and increases the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement.

Land Reclamation

Aggregate extraction is an interim land use. Depleted areas are reclaimed for a new land use that blends with and complements adjacent lands. Reclamation efforts include farmland, natural areas and areas for residential, industrial and commercial development.

Habitat By Design

Biodiversity initiatives are focused on creating habitats that complement adjacent lands and enhance opportunities for attracting new native species.

This includes creating specific features for species of concern in our ecological programs. Projects include habitats for salamanders and amphibians, snakes, pollinators, migratory birds and turtles.