Due to COVID-19, the UK economy is estimated to have contracted by 10% in 2020. However, construction activity and mineral products markets started to recover faster than the rest of the UK economy in the second half of the year. During this difficult period, the MPA continued to champion industry issues. Several crucial documents were also published or updated, including the UK Concrete and Cement Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero and the revised MPA Biodiversity Strategy.
2020 also saw a re-focussing of MPA's health & safety activities via the launch of 'Vision Zero'- 'Safe and Well Everyday'. A new set of shared values underpinned this to help change behaviours. Vision Zero also looks to eliminate the causes of 'The Fatal 6' – the high consequence hazards responsible for the majority of fatalities and serious incidents within the industry over the last ten years.
Highlights in the Report also include:
- Recycled and secondary aggregates accounted for 28% of total aggregates supply, well above the European average
- MPA members have recorded the creation 8,000ha of priority habitat and have a further 11,000ha planned. In 2019, over 10km of new hedgerow was planted
- The launch of a comprehensive package of COVID-19 guidance and resources to support members
Commenting, Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the Mineral Products Association, said: "Despite a difficult year, the UK mineral products industry continues to show the continual improvement in performance required across its strategic priorities in order to achieve its vision for 2025. The mineral products industry was rightly recognised as an 'essential industry' during the first lockdown, emphasising the essential contribution minerals and mineral products make to the economy and our quality of life.
"The launch of the UK Concrete and Cement Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero is a clear demonstration of our industry's commitment to operate sustainably today and take proactive steps to ensure we can continue to do so in the future. Across the wider MPA family, we will continue to strengthen reporting and data collection across the strategic priorities to work towards the targets set out in the MPA Charter."
