CRH plc
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2014
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Health & Safety
- Environment & Climate Change
- Governance
- People & Community
- Stakeholder Dialogue
Environmental Achievements
- Increased use of recycled materials to 19 million tonnes
- Reduced specific energy consumption in cement by 13% over 5 years
- More than doubled the use of alternative fuels in cement over 5 years
- 40% of US asphalt production is lower carbon warm-mix asphalt
- 98% of Group quarries and pits have reinstatement plans
Social Achievements
- 16% reduction in annual accident frequency rate
- 93% of locations accident-free
- 1.1 million hours of safety training
- 23.6 hours of training per employee
- 51% of Group companies supported stakeholder initiatives
- Increased female representation on the CRH Board to 25%
Governance Achievements
- Realigned C&E structure to serve the new CRH Europe organization
- Updated Code of Business Conduct
- 32,000 employees participated in Code of Business Conduct training
- 11,000 employees undertook advanced instruction on regulatory environments, anti-bribery rules, and competition law
Climate Goals & Targets
- Reduce specific net cement CO2 emissions by 25% on 1990 levels by 2020
Environmental Challenges
- Stringent and evolving CSR principles, including health and safety management and social performance laws and standards
- Broad and increasingly stringent range of environmental laws and standards
- Many laws and regulations (both local and international), including those relating to competition law, corruption and fraud
- Inadequate processes to recruit, develop and retain talented individuals
- Uncertainty in forward-looking statements in sustainability-related communications
Mitigation Strategies
- Developed a Group Health & Safety Policy and a Group Social Policy
- Developed a Group Environmental Policy, proactively addressing climate change challenges
- Implemented policies and procedures detailed in the Code of Business Conduct
- Implemented a human resource management framework focusing on performance management, leadership development, coaching, and mentoring
- Undertakes regular communication with stakeholders
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Ethical Procurement Policy
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI G4 Guidelines
Certifications: ISO 14001 (604 locations)
Third-party Assurance: DNV GL
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Lower carbon cements
- Warm-mix asphalt
- Recycled aggregates
- Precast concrete products contributing to energy efficiency
- Energy-efficient building envelope solutions
Awards & Recognition
- Various safety and environmental awards in US and Europe
Reporting Period: 2015
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Health & Safety
- Environment & Climate Change
- Governance
- People & Community
Environmental Achievements
- 23 million tonnes of alternative raw materials reused
- 65% water intake reduction through recycling
- 6 million tonnes of alternative fuels provided
- Achieved 2015 carbon and air emissions targets ahead of schedule
Social Achievements
- Over 800 stakeholder engagement events held
- 5 million hours of safety training completed
- 5 million euros invested in safety over the last five years
- 31% of the CRH Board is now female, exceeding the target
- Group companies received almost 600 external awards in areas of sustainability
Governance Achievements
- Strengthened the organisation of the Group Regulatory, Compliance & Ethics programme
- 28,000 employees participated in COBC training
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Reduce specific net cement CO2 emissions by 25% (2020 vs 1990)
- Reduce specific cement dust emissions by 80% and NOx by 22% (2020 vs 2006)
- Increase the number of female Board members to 25% (exceeded)
- Continue to refine Health & Safety Policy and implement consistently in acquisitions
- Continue to refine Environmental Policy and implement consistently in acquisitions
- Continue to refine Social Policy and implement consistently in acquisitions
Environmental Challenges
- Integrating newly acquired businesses into Group safety systems
- Ensuring a culture of safety is embedded at every location in countries with traditionally poor safety cultures
- Managing the increased amount of waste due to acquisitions
- Addressing compliance issues in newly acquired companies
Mitigation Strategies
- Established an integration team to implement Group policies, processes and reporting systems in newly acquired companies
- Developed specific processes to address safety challenges in regions with poor safety cultures
- Increased recycling rate from 69% in 2014 to 76% in 2015
- Addressing and resolving compliance issues as soon as possible
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 2831 suppliers selected for audit by a third party assessment tool
Responsible Procurement
- Ethical Procurement Code
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Opportunities
- Producing lower carbon products in climate-friendly processes
- Developing energy saving products & solutions
- Using renewable energy sources
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI G4 Guidelines (Core)
Certifications: ISO 14001 (1051 locations)
Third-party Assurance: DNV GL
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Low carbon cement
- Warm-mix asphalt
- Recycled aggregates
- Porous paving
- Energy efficient building envelope solutions
Awards & Recognition
- Almost 600 external sustainability awards in 2015
Reporting Period: 2016
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Safety
- Resource efficiency
- Employee engagement
- Business conduct
- Community engagement
- Supply chain
- Environment
- Climate change
- Air emissions
- Water
- Biodiversity
Environmental Achievements
- 22% reduction in specific net CO2 emissions from cement plants since 1990
- Used 5.5 million tonnes of alternative materials in cement plants, up over 250% since 2012
- Used 1.9 million tonnes of alternative fuels, up over 300% since 2012 (provided 45% of total energy requirements for EU plants)
- Reduced water intake by 58% compared to volumes required without water recycling
- Recycled water at 824 locations
- Diverted 1.7 million tonnes of by-products from waste streams
Social Achievements
- Over 90% of locations were accident free in 2016
- 77% of Group companies have health and wellbeing programmes
- 2.9 million hours of employee training in 2016 (33 hours per employee)
- Launched CRH Technical Cement Graduate programme in Eastern Europe
- Republic Cement's Tahanan Ko Programme released over 16,000 housing loans, impacting 503,000 lives
- Oldcastle's partnership with Habitat for Humanity built seven homes and started an eighth
Governance Achievements
- Exceeded target of 25% female representation on the CRH Board (33%)
- Implemented the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code
- Exceeded target of 95% of relevant employees receiving CoBC and ACT training
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- 25% reduction in specific net CO2 cement plant emissions by 2020 (from 1990 baseline)
- 80% reduction in average clinker particulate emissions compared with 2006 levels by 2020
- 22% reduction in average clinker NOx emissions compared with 2006 levels by 2020
- 95% of relevant companies to have waste reduction/recycling programmes
- 95% of employees to receive training
- 95% of relevant employees to have been trained in CoBC
- 90% of relevant companies to have Community Engagement Plans
- 100% of relevant suppliers to be compliant with the Ethical Procurement Code
- 90% of relevant locations to have a permitted/certified environmental management system
- 2015 acquisitions to be integrated into environmental roadmaps
- 75% of relevant companies to have water efficiency and quality programmes
- 90% of relevant locations in sensitive areas for biodiversity to have a biodiversity management plan
- 100% of relevant extractive sites to have a restoration plan
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Construction industry productivity trailing other sectors
- Varying customer priorities regarding sustainable products
- Misconceptions about concrete's sustainability
- Climate change risks and opportunities
- Need for collaborative approach to reduce cement CO2 emissions
- Understanding social impacts of community investments
- Potential environmental impacts and opportunities across diverse activities
- Managing supply chain risks (environmental, safety, labor, governance)
- Quantifying overall sustainability benefits of products
Mitigation Strategies
- Providing technical support and product advice to customers
- Developing innovative concrete design and construction techniques
- Developing digital solutions for building structures
- Promoting the circular economy
- Investing in facilities and increasing use of alternative materials
- Developing principles and tools to measure community investment impacts
- Applying robust environmental policy and management systems
- Implementing Supplier Code of Conduct and Ethical Procurement Code
- Tracking indicators on a product-by-product basis
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Ethical Procurement Code
- Training of 100% of procurement teams in responsible sourcing
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI G4, Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI)
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 50001
Third-party Assurance: DNV GL
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Low carbon cement
- Warm-mix asphalt
- Recycled aggregates
- Porous paving
- Energy efficiency building envelope solutions
- Sustainable fencing systems
- Green roofs
- Precast concrete solutions for flood defence and stormwater management
Awards & Recognition
- Over 650 external awards for environmental and safety performance
Reporting Period: 2017
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Creating sustainable value at CRH
- Embedding a culture of safety
- Creating solutions for our customers
- Developing and empowering our people
- Collaborating and engaging for sustainability
- Protecting the environment
- Building a resilient and sustainable business
Environmental Achievements
- CO2 emissions are now 22% lower than they were in 1990, and we’re on course to reduce our emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.
- Re-used a total 30m tonnes of alternative raw materials, substituting 7% of the virgin materials we would have otherwise used.
- Approximately 75% of our US asphalt volume in 2017 was lower carbon warm-mix asphalt
Social Achievements
- 94% of our sites were accident free.
- In 2017, 82% of our companies offered career development opportunities or advice to employees.
- In 2017, employees completed a total of 1.7m hours of safety training, an average of 19 hours of safety training per employee across all categories.
Governance Achievements
- Inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) Europe.
- Our operating companies took home nearly 900 sustainability awards last year.
- Implementation of the 2016 UK Corporate Governance Code
Climate Goals & Targets
- Develop and implement safety programmes that set the standard for an industry-leading culture of safety
- Develop training programmes that can adapt to the ever-changing needs of our employees
- To build on our reputation as a responsible company to develop trusting relationships and create a long-term positive impact in the communities in which we operate
- To go beyond our own supply chain and positively influence the transition towards sustainable resource management
- To drive environmental protection measures across our business and the wider industry
- Reduce CO2 emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020
- 95% of employees to receive training by 2020
- 95% of relevant employees to have been trained in CoBC by 2020
- 90% of relevant companies to have Community Engagement Plans by 2020
- 100% of relevant suppliers to be compliant with the Ethical Procurement Code by 2020
- 90% of relevant locations to have a permitted/certified environmental management system by 2020
Environmental Challenges
- Ensuring sustainability is viewed within our organisation as a multidimensional opportunity that will help to identify strategies and practices that contribute to a more sustainable world and, simultaneously, drive shareholder value.
- More clearly linking sustainability improvements to financial delivery and assessing the wider value chain impacts from our actions.
- Achieving zero accident status at every location.
- Ensuring consistency in the application of our safety processes across our global business, some of which are at different stages in the development of their safety culture.
- Reducing CO2 emissions through the use of alternative fuels is one of our key priorities, however, we will have to overcome issues of public perception and availability of fuels in order to do so.
Mitigation Strategies
- Creating a vision for our next generation of targets, focusing on both interim and long-term goals.
- Learning from these accidents and preventing them by implementing new programmes and initiatives and addressing the significant challenge that contractor management brings.
- Integrating safety into everything we do.
- Developing our processes to meet the principles set out in ISO 20400
- Working with wider stakeholders to address the availability of alternative fuels
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Ethical Procurement Code
- ISO 20400 sustainable procurement guidelines
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Providing building solutions that reduce emissions and promote climate resilience; reducing own emissions and carbon footprint of products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, AA1000
Certifications: ISO 14001
Third-party Assurance: DNV GL
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure)
- SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities)
- SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production)
- SDG 13 (Climate action)
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Low-carbon cement
- Warm-mix asphalt
- Products with high recycled content
- Insulated glass
- Products that deliver sustainability benefits for the built environment
Awards & Recognition
- Nearly 900 external awards for environmental and safety performance
Reporting Period: 2018
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Safety
- Environment
- Social Responsibility
- Inclusion and Diversity
- Sustainability
Environmental Achievements
- 23% reduction in specific cement CO2 emissions compared to 1990 levels; on track for 2020 target.
- 32 million tonnes of alternative raw materials recycled or re-used in new products in 2018 (30 million tonnes in 2017).
Social Achievements
- Increased focus on inclusion and diversity, appointing a Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and establishing a Global Inclusion and Diversity Council.
- Over 1,300 stakeholder events hosted in 2018.
- Approximately 38,500 employees trained in the Code of Business Conduct in 2018.
Governance Achievements
- Established a new Safety, Environment & Social Responsibility (SESR) Board Committee.
- Completed a competitive audit tender process, selecting Deloitte as the Group’s auditors for 2020.
Climate Goals & Targets
- 300bps of EBITDA margin improvement by 2021.
- Build dividend cover to 3.0x before one-off items over the medium-term.
Environmental Challenges
- Six fatalities involving CRH operations in 2018.
- Brexit-related uncertainty in the UK.
- Rising input costs (energy, bitumen).
- Adverse weather conditions in certain markets.
- Strong competition in commodity markets.
- Scarcity of raw material reserves and difficulty securing permits.
- Geopolitical and social instability in some operating regions.
- Cyclicality of construction activity and economic conditions.
- Risks associated with acquisitions and divestments.
- Challenges in achieving sustainability goals and managing climate change risks.
- Health and safety risks inherent in the industry.
- Operational risks (climatic conditions, technical failures, etc.).
- Governance complexities in joint ventures and associates.
- People management challenges (attracting, retaining, developing talent).
- Information technology and cyber security risks.
- Compliance with diverse laws and regulations.
- Volatility in defined benefit pension schemes.
- Risks associated with financial instruments.
- Uncertainties related to taxation and balance sheet provisioning.
- Foreign currency translation risks.
- Potential goodwill impairment.
Mitigation Strategies
- Ongoing programmes focused on reducing CO2 emissions.
- Implementation of a pragmatic programme aimed at increasing social diversity.
- Collaboration with stakeholders (GCCA, Wildlife Habitat Council).
- Investment in safety initiatives (€190 million over past five years).
- Focus on customer service, innovation, and cost management.
- Effective permit management systems and planning for reserve enlargement.
- Mitigation strategies to protect CRH’s people and assets in high-risk areas.
- Market diversification and disciplined financial management.
- Expertise in acquisitions and divestments, detailed due diligence programmes.
- Embedding sustainability principles in strategy and business model.
- Robust health and safety framework, training, and decisive action on non-adherence.
- Strong adherence to Group policies and robust controls for operational continuity.
- Board-approved governance protocols for joint ventures and associates.
- Talent management processes, succession planning initiatives.
- Strategic and tactical efforts to address cyber threats.
- Code of Business Conduct, training programme, whistleblowing hotline.
- De-risking frameworks for defined benefit pension schemes.
- Monitoring and control of liquidity risks, strong financial counterparties.
- Group Tax Guidelines and Group Transfer Pricing Guidelines.
- Conducting activities primarily in local currencies.
- Close monitoring of economic indicators and regular review by the Audit Committee.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: Global Reporting Initiative Standards
Third-party Assurance: Independently assured
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Lower carbon cement
- Warm-mix asphalt
- Porous/permeable asphalt and concrete
- High-performance glass and glazing products
- Recycled asphalt pavement and shingles
- Composite decking products
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Safety
- Environment
- People
- Products
- Collaboration
- Integrity
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced CO2 emissions by 26% compared with 1990 levels
- Recycled 36.5 million tonnes of alternative materials and fuels
- Invested $173 million in environmental initiatives
Social Achievements
- 94% of locations were accident-free
- 2.1 million hours of employee training
- Donated $8.3 million to local organizations and initiatives
Governance Achievements
- 95% of relevant employees received Code of Business Conduct training
- No investigations from external parties into allegations of corruption
Climate Goals & Targets
- Carbon neutrality along the cement and concrete value chain by 2050
- 33% female senior leadership by 2030
- 50% revenue from products with enhanced sustainable attributes by 2025
- 95% of relevant businesses to have waste reduction or recycling targets in place by 2030
- 100% of relevant locations in sensitive areas to have a Biodiversity Management Plan by 2030
- 100% of companies to have water management plans in place by 2030
- 100% of companies to have Community Engagement Plans by 2030
- Reduce specific net CO2 emissions to <520kg CO2/t by 2030
Environmental Challenges
- Achieving carbon neutrality along the cement and concrete value chain by 2050
- Managing potential impacts to human rights across a complex global supply chain
- Ensuring rigorous safety standards within our supply chain
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in low-carbon energy technologies, reducing the carbon footprint of products, and innovating for carbon efficiency
- Developing and refining our approach to human rights due diligence
- Robust safety management systems requiring all contract employees to have relevant training and qualifications
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of suppliers expected to comply with Supplier Code of Conduct
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Sustainability criteria integrated into sourcing processes
- Responsible procurement training
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Adverse weather events impacting construction activity
Transition Risks
- Changing customer preferences
- Emissions regulations
Opportunities
- Development of lower-carbon products
- Increased demand for sustainable building solutions
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards Comprehensive Option, SASB, TCFD
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001
Third-party Assurance: DNV
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
CRH's actions contribute to the delivery of global initiatives including the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Lower-carbon cement
- Building products with energy savings
- Greenline and VersaStone masonry products
- MoistureShield composite decking
Awards & Recognition
- CDP Climate questionnaire score of A-
- NAPA Award for Community Involvement
- NASLR Outreach Award
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Safety
- Environment
- People
- Products
- Collaboration
- Integrity
Environmental Achievements
- 25% absolute reduction in group-wide Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2 emissions by 2030 (SBTi approved)
- 520kg CO2 / tonne cementitious product emissions reduction target by 2025 in cement plants
- 33% of fuel requirements for cement plants in the European Union provided by alternative fuels
- 1.0m tonnes of emissions prevented through the use of carbon neutral fuels
- 8.0m tonnes of alternative raw materials used in cement plants
- 39.5m tonnes of alternative fuels and raw materials recycled
- Achieved 2020 air emissions reduction targets one year ahead of schedule
- Almost three quarters of businesses (representing 99% of energy use) have set energy reduction targets
Social Achievements
- 94% of locations were accident-free in 2021
- 2.4m hours of employee training across the business in 2021
- 22% female senior leadership (2020: 16%)
- $7.1m donated to local organisations and initiatives
Governance Achievements
- Launched refreshed Code of Business Conduct (CoBC)
- 8,500 employees received Advanced Compliance Training in 2021
- 32,600 employees trained in CoBC in 2021
Climate Goals & Targets
- Carbon neutrality along the cement and concrete value chain by 2050
- 25% absolute reduction in group-wide Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2 emissions by 2030
- 100% of locations in sensitive areas to have a Biodiversity Management Plan by 2030
- 100% of companies to have water management plans in place by 2030
- 95% of relevant businesses to have waste reduction or recycling targets in place by 2030
- 100% of companies to have Community Engagement Plans by 2030
- 50% of product revenue from products with enhanced sustainability attributes by 2025
- 33% female senior leadership by 2030
- Cement plants to reduce emissions to 520kg CO2 /tonne cementitious product by 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Shortage of skilled workers to implement new technologies
- Inadequate collaboration between suppliers and customers
- Insufficient access to alternative fuels and materials
- Lack of regulatory framework recognising co-processing as optimal waste management
- Insufficient support for whole life-cycle performance of concrete products
- Managing potential impacts to human rights across a complex supply chain
- Ensuring rigorous safety standards within the supply chain
- Competition for talent
- Meeting the needs of a growing global population while reducing environmental impact
- Managing finite resources efficiently
- Assessing the impacts of social investments
- Addressing climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in health and safety ($300m over five years)
- Implementing robust safety management systems
- Developing a single safety vocabulary through CRH Life Saving Rules
- Integrating COVID-19 protection measures into safe systems of work
- Developing a carbon reduction roadmap
- Accelerating the roll out of proven technologies
- Embracing multiple breakthrough technologies
- Implementing a global safety audit programme
- Investing in renewable energy
- Improving energy efficiency
- Increasing use of alternative fuels and materials
- Developing innovative products and solutions
- Collaborating with partners, such as the WBCSD and GCCA, to support the transition to a circular economy
- Implementing a sustainable procurement programme
- Developing Community Engagement Plans
- Donating to local organisations and initiatives
- Engaging with stakeholders
- Developing and refining human rights due diligence
- Implementing a comprehensive human rights approach across operations
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not specified, but includes sustainability criteria
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Sustainability criteria in supplier selection and assessment
- Category Strategy Plans to drive improvement actions
- Responsible procurement training for staff
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Rising sea levels
- Water shortages
- Flooding
- Hurricanes
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Market shifts
- Carbon pricing
Opportunities
- Meeting increasing demands for innovative, sustainable products
- Developing building solutions to help protect communities
- Developing lower-carbon products
- Contributing to a circular economy
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards Comprehensive Option, SASB, TCFD
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001
Third-party Assurance: DNV
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
CRH contributes to all 17 SDGs, with a focus on these four goals through various programs, partnerships, and initiatives.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Lower-carbon cements
- Permeable interlocking concrete pavement system
- Greenline and VersaStone masonry products
- High-performance glass and glazing products
- Ready-made 'Uuma' concrete using recycled aggregates
Awards & Recognition
- NAPA Quality in Construction award
- LEED® Gold Certification
- USGBC® Wintergreen Award
- Clear Assured Silver Standard
- TIA Annual Global Sustainability Award
- NAPA award for rehabilitation of US-6 and SR115 roads
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Decarbonisation
- Waste
- Water
Environmental Achievements
- 7% year-on-year reduction in absolute carbon emissions
- 42.4 million tonnes of alternative fuels and materials recycled
- c. 140 billion litres of water saved by recycling at our locations
- 90% of process waste generated was externally recycled
Social Achievements
- 94% accident-free locations
- c. 31,500 employees trained in Code of Business Conduct
- 1.5 million hours of health and safety training (average 20.2 hours per employee)
Governance Achievements
- Refreshed Code of Business Conduct launched
- 100% of new suppliers screened in line with Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net-zero emissions by 2050
- 30% reduction in absolute carbon emissions by 2030 (from a 2021 base year)
- 95% of operating companies to have waste recycling programmes in place by 2030
- 100% of operating companies to have water management plans in place by 2030
- 33% women in senior leadership by 2030
- 50% of product revenue from products with enhanced sustainability attributes by 2025
- Reduce water consumption by 10% by 2025 (implied)
Environmental Challenges
- Five reportable fatalities in 2022 (one employee, four contractors)
- Supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, geopolitical conflict, and energy crisis
- Achieving absolute carbon emissions reductions
- Global waste management challenges
- Pressures on water resources due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change
Mitigation Strategies
- Thorough investigation of fatalities and sharing lessons learned
- Robust safety management systems and continuous improvement initiatives
- Sustainable procurement programme and supplier engagement
- Decarbonisation roadmap with science-based targets
- Investment in innovative technologies and circular economy solutions
- Water management plans and water recycling initiatives
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of new suppliers screened in line with SCoC
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Sustainability criteria in supplier selection and assessment
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
- Flooding
- Drought
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Market shifts
- Carbon pricing
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products and solutions
- Increased demand for low-carbon building materials
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards, SASB, TCFD
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001
Third-party Assurance: DNV
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 6
- SDG 11
- SDG 5
- SDG 15
CRH's initiatives contribute to these goals through sustainable building materials, circular economy solutions, decarbonisation efforts, water management, and biodiversity conservation.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Low-carbon concrete
- Recycled asphalt products
- Greenline and VersaStone masonry products
Awards & Recognition
- S&P Sustainability Yearbook Top 10%
- CDP Supplier Engagement Leader
- ISS ESG Prime rating
- MSCI ESG Ratings AAA
- FTSE4Good Index inclusion
- STOX® Global ESG Leaders Index inclusion
- NAPA Community Involvement Award
- NRMCA Concrete Cares Award
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Water
- Circularity
- Decarbonization
- Natural World
- People and Communities
- Responsible Business
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2e emissions by 8% in 2023.
- Recycled 43.9 million tonnes of by-products and wastes from other industries in 2023.
- Recycled 153 billion litres of water at our operations in 2023.
- Increased the proportion of renewable electricity used to 31% in 2023.
Social Achievements
- Launched a campaign to reinforce respect in the workplace.
- Launched a Water Solutions innovation accelerator program.
- Completed over 168,200 contractor transport safety checks.
- Employees completed 1.6 million hours of health and safety training (average 21.3 hours per employee).
Governance Achievements
- Completed a double materiality assessment.
- Established a Carbon Reduction Council.
- Trained 33,949 employees in the Code of Business Conduct.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net-zero emissions by 2050.
- 30% reduction in absolute group-wide CO2e emissions by 2030.
- 100% of companies to have Water Management Plans by 2030.
- 95% of companies to have waste recycling programs in place by 2030.
- 100% of locations in sensitive areas to have a Biodiversity Management Plan by 2030.
- 50% of revenue from products with enhanced sustainability attributes by 2025.
Environmental Challenges
- Four reportable fatalities in 2023.
- Global water challenges, including access to clean water and flood resilience.
- Climate change and the need to decarbonize the built environment.
- Managing Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste.
- Maintaining high safety standards in a high-risk industry.
Mitigation Strategies
- Thorough investigation of each fatality to prevent future incidents.
- Investing in value-driven solutions for smart water management, water treatment, and flood prevention.
- Implementing a 2030 decarbonization roadmap.
- Processing C&D waste to make recycled aggregates.
- Implementing robust safety management systems and providing extensive training.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of new suppliers screened using environmental and social criteria.
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC)
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products and solutions
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 9001
Third-party Assurance: DNV
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 6
- SDG 9
- SDG 11
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 15
Initiatives contribute to these goals through water management solutions, lower-carbon building materials, circular economy practices, and biodiversity conservation.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Lower-carbon cements, energy-efficient building products, recycled aggregates, permeable pavements.
Awards & Recognition
- CDP A for Climate, B for Water
- S&P Global Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
- FTSE4Good Index
- MSCI ESG Ratings AAA