The concrete industry is at a pivotal point in its journey toward sustainability, with decarbonising transport emerging as a critical element. As urban areas grow and construction projects expand, reducing the carbon footprint of transporting materials becomes increasingly vital. Ben Garner, Logistics Director at Tarmac, explores how decarbonising concrete transport brings significant benefits to both urban areas and construction projects.
A lot has already been written about the need to reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry, and particularly in concrete manufacturing. Environmental performance is no longer just a compliance checkbox, it's a shared responsibility in a concrete industry striving for improvement.
Great strides are being made, particularly with the development of low carbon concrete mixes. Tarmac's CEVO is specifically designed to minimise carbon dioxide emissions during production through the use of alternative materials, offering enhanced durability, strength and versatility over conventional mixes.
Making progress through decarbonised transport
However, there is another carbon reduction method when it comes to the supply of concrete solutions; decarbonised transport within supply chains. By reducing CO2 emissions and supporting healthier cities, decarbonised transport is enabling the concrete industry to help build a greener future in the places it matters the most.
The definition of a healthy city depends on where you look, but it's clear there is a global movement under way. The World Health Organization says a healthy city is defined by a process, not an outcome. As places that deliver for people and the planet, "they engage the whole of society, encouraging the participation of all communities in the pursuit of peace and prosperity," it says. The United Nations and Bupa are just two of the other organisations to have penned their own definition.
Clearly there's more to a healthy city than reducing emissions from concrete deliveries, but as cities continue to grow there is a responsibility on our industry and, in practice, decarbonised transport can be achieved through one of two ways. Firstly, by prioritising electric vehicles throughout the supply chain, from quarry machines through to the mixer trucks that deliver to site. And secondly, by mobilising local and temporary concrete plants to reduce the need for transport in the first place.
Lower CO₂ for every load
Transport accounts for a significant share of concrete's embodied carbon. By switching to electric and hybrid delivery fleets, as well as optimising routes through digital logistics tools, we can cut CO₂ emissions from the moment materials leave the plant. For every mixer load moved by zero-emission vehicles, the carbon savings are immediate and measurable, helping contractors to meet their own reporting requirements with each and meet stringent sustainability targets.
Reduced noise, happier neighbours
Construction is an essential part of city life, but it doesn't have to add to the noise. Electric mixer trucks and on-site machinery operate far more quietly than diesel-powered vehicles, reducing disturbance for residents, workers and neighbours. In dense urban areas, the impact can be significant, fostering better relationships between construction teams and the communities they serve.
Cleaner air, cleaner cities
Diesel exhaust isn't just a climate issue, it's a public health one. Switching to zero-emission delivery vehicles cuts harmful emissions and contributes to cleaner air in our cities. This aligns perfectly with the ambitions of low-emission zones and city-wide air-quality improvement plans, allowing concrete suppliers to be part of the solution rather than a compliance headache.
A roadmap to scalable change
Of course, the shift to decarbonised concrete transport is already in progress. Tarmac is leading the way with local plant mobilisation and the adoption of battery-powered fleets, helping to show what's possible if the industry works together towards change.
As part of this wider transition, many operators are also introducing the infrastructure needed to support electric transport at scale. Expanding charging capacity at urban plants and depots, particularly in cities such as London where operational demand is highest, is becoming increasingly important. Early deployment of electric mixer trucks and support vehicles is offering valuable insights into real-world performance, helping to shape practical charging strategies and operational models. These developments are laying the groundwork for a future in which electric logistics can operate reliably, efficiently and across entire city networks.
As charging infrastructure expands and battery technology advances, the business case will only strengthen.
From cutting CO₂ and improving air quality to reducing noise in the heart of our cities, the benefits of greener concrete transport are tangible, immediate and far-reaching. Combined with low-carbon concrete mixes like CEVO, they support the pathway towards a truly sustainable built environment.www.tarmac.com
