Aggregate Industries, part of Holcim, has demonstrated its clear commitment to making construction more circular with the introduction of ECOCycle to the UK.
ECOCycle, being rolled out globally by the Holcim network, categorises products that have been manufactured with at least 10% Construction Demolition Materials (CDM), ensuring nothing is wasted.
With its unique mark, the circular approach is applied to products that contain at least 10% CDM content following independent verification to ensure they comply with the applicable clauses of ISO 14021:2016.
Products with an ECOCycle inside can contain 10 to 100% recycled materials. This can also be applied to plants that can process recycled materials.
The move is part of the company's drive to scale up circular construction, reduce its use of natural resources, and build new from old. It is being introduced in the UK in a phased approach across the five divisions that make up the business.
It will be applied first to its asphalt and surfacing product lines, including solutions such as its Foamix product, which contains 92% recycled content. A total of 31 of its asphalt plants have been certified to manufacture products with ECOCycle inside.
It will also be applied to part of its aggregates portfolio focused on the materials produced through its Sivyer recycling hubs in London and across five of its readymix concrete plants in London and the Midlands.
Kaziwe Kaulule, Aggregate Industries UK's Managing Director of Aggregates, said: "Our goal in the UK and as Holcim globally is clear: to build new from the old.
"With the world witnessing the equivalent of a city the size of New York City being built every month due to rapid population growth and urbanisation, it is imperative to adopt innovative solutions that balance environmental preservation with the needs of expanding towns and cities.
"We are at the forefront of driving circular construction in the UK, and with ECOCycle, we can be a vital part in building cities from existing cities, recycling 100% of construction demolition materials into new solutions, so everything gets reused, and nothing gets lost. With our world's growing population and urbanisation, circular construction is essential to build a future that works for people and the planet.
"With ECOCycle, we not only preserve natural resources but also minimise waste by repurposing construction demolition materials into valuable assets for construction projects."
In the UK last year, Aggregate Industries processed 1.5 million tonnes of CDM, which was recycled into new products. The aim is to continue growing that number year on year to more than five million tonnes by 2030.
For more information about ECOCycle and Aggregate Industries' commitment to circular construction, please visit https://www.aggregate.com/sustainability/ECOCycle
