The Concrete Industry and the Environment

Concrete is one of the most versatile, durable and cost efficient building materials known to man. It is also environmentally sustainable, with green credentials that outperform both timber and steel.

Concrete has a massive contribution to make to the construction industry and to the reduction in CO2. Not so much through improvement in manufacturing techniques (in 2002 concrete was only responsible for 2.6% of the UK CO2 emissions) but through the way in which concretes can absorb heat which can then be used to control the ventilation within a building. About 90% of the environmental impact from the building is from heating, cooling and lighting and only 10% from the embodied energy used to produce the fabric of the building (taken over a 60 year cycle).

The UK is mainly self sufficient in concrete and the materials needed for its manufacture. One requirement of Sustainability is that goods should be consumed as near to its production as possible, reducing the need for transport. This is true of ready mixed concrete due to the fact that it cannot be transported over long distances.

Sustainable development within the concrete industry has raised 2 main issues that must be addressed. 1) natural resources are being used and discarded at a rate that the UK cannot sustain; 2) emissions caused by the consumption of these resources are leading to global warning.

The British Concrete Industry is continuously investing in developing new processes that will reduce the impact the production of concrete has on the environment. Companies within manufacturing and construction are being encouraged to either recycle waste products or to use waste products from other industries. Concrete block manufacturers are already using by-products from power stations as a replacement for cement and in road construction projects they are using a high percentage of concrete waste for use within the base course. Concrete is a highly recyclable product and by using as much of this waste as possible in new construction we can have a massive affect on the environmental impact of concrete industry.

CUBE6 Commitment

CUBE6 Limited is aware of the damage that any business can have on the environment, omitting pollution, producing waste and use valuable resources. We are committed to undertake regular Life Cycle Analysis in order to review our processes and assess what we can introduce to reduce our Environmental Impact.

Factory Products

• Any waste concrete and steel wire created during the production process will be taken away by local companies for recycling. There are no harmful chemicals used in the production of our units.

Office Materials

• Brochures are printed on recycled paper.
• All plain paper, pre-printed business forms and cards are on recycled and recyclable paper.
• Toners for printers, photocopiers and fax machines will be refilled or recycled.
• Quotations and drawings will be emailed; saving resources and transport.
• Offices and Welfare facilities will have sectional recycling bins for general waste products.

Supplies

• Concrete supplies are delivered from within a 10 mile radius of the site.
• We will look locally for all supplies of sundries; from stationary to production supplies

Refurbished Items

By purchasing refurbished items we can reduce the affect on the environment by removing the requirement for new materials and the resources required in the production process. We are extending the life of a product that might of otherwise ended up in land fill. We are committed to purchasing as much refurbished equipment as can be found and these include.

• Welfare and on site office facilities.
• Printers, photocopiers and fax machines.
• Desks, chairs and storage units.

Reduction in Resources and Materials

The CUBE6 150mm deep beam has the smallest cross section of any beam on the market.

To put this in context:-

• CUBE6 produce over 600 lm of beams with only one 6m3 load of ready mixed concrete. This is up to 40% more beams than our nearest competitors, which in turn reduces material requirements and increasing the efficiency of the manufacturing equipment.
• a 27 tonne vehicle can transport over 1100 metres of CUBE6 beams, compared to only 800 metres of our nearest competitors, reducing the amount of vehicles on the road, and co2 emissions produced.

Drainage and Rainwater Harvesting

The managing and harvesting of rainwater is critical to ensure we manage the changes predicted in the UK climate over the next 50 years. The CUBE6 site includes for the installation of soakaways, which will help to prevent localised flooding, and a 3000 gallon water harvesting tank for use in the manufacture of ready mixed concrete.