Mineralautumn 19 ISSUE 20 Products Today
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mineralAUTUMN 19 ISSUE 20 products today Quarries & Nature Uniquely placed for net gain First defence Fighting the floods Home truths Climate resilient housing Hot gossip? Lower carbon asphalt NEWS WELCOME As if the infernal chaos surrounding Brexit In an era where industry is screaming for to flooding and other were not enough, our markets are rapidly more certainty, it serves no purpose for consequences. chilling. Whether we are teetering on the Government to re-announce previous Above all we edge of a technical recession or not, it is spending commitments, pushing out headline need a steady perplexing to hear Government on the one grabbing numbers, whilst delaying start dates and competent hand proclaim that it will become more and downplaying the timescale during which Government that’s ‘can-do’ and will inspire an ‘infrastructure the spending may, or may not, take place. sensitive to the realities of what makes our revolution’, whilst on the other canning Whilst major projects aren't there to benefit economy tick and grow sustainably. Whilst it is major energy projects and converting the supply chain, after years of Government tempting to back the push to ‘get Brexit done’, dither into delay on HS2. promises, we at least hoped to be in a position in reality we know that, whatever happens, to plan with some confidence. Unfortunately A further deferral on such a major the uncertainty does not end on the first of we still can't. infrastructure project as HS2, which is so November – that’s merely the end of that dependent on the supply of huge volumes It is hard to retain shareholder confidence beginning. Until we have not only ‘got Brexit of aggregates, asphalt and concrete, is a when ‘normal’ business uncertainty is done’ properly but also recovered our national double kick in the teeth for our sector. Budget compounded by such shallow politics. The UK poise and purpose, it feels like industry has forecasts which had already slipped now have desperately needs to renew and upgrade its to continue to anticipate more downside risk to be torn up, and forward investment in new transport and energy infrastructure. We need before we can look forward with confidence. and improved plant capacity written off over more and better housing. Climate change Martin Riley, Chairman, MPA less business. impacts require us to strengthen our resilience Over 1.5 million trees in 10 years More than 1.5 million trees and 100km of In the 10 years to 2019, the data shows that the This means that the mineral products sector hedgerow have been planted by MPA industry created the equivalent of almost 2,000 is making a huge and vital contribution to the member companies in the past decade. hectares of woodland – enough trees to cover Government’s national ambitions to plant new all of London’s eight royal parks – and planted woodland to help combat the effects of That’s according to new figures collected from enough hedgerow to stretch from Oxford to climate change. British mineral products producers for the MPA’s Cambridge. annual sustainable development report. “Mineral products companies are uniquely placed to make a real and substantial contribution to the creation of new woodland and hedgerows as part of quarry restoration schemes,” said Nicola Owen, the MPA’s Director of Environment, waste and water. “The industry is planting an average of 150,000 trees every year and in 2018 alone the figure was a massive 203,488 trees. “This is more evidence that mineral products companies are honouring their commitment to delivering a lasting legacy for the natural environment, alongside their role in providing essential materials for the built environment.” Mineral Products Association Mineral Products Today The views expressed in Mineral Products Gillingham House, 38-44 Gillingham Street Managing Editor: Elizabeth Clements, Today are not necessarily those of the London SW1V 1HU Director – Communications Mineral Products Association. Tel: 020 7963 8000 Fax: 020 7963 8001 Email: [email protected] Cover: A common tern diving for fish at Email: [email protected] Editor: Andi Hodgson Cleveland Lakes Nature Reserve, Ashton Web: www.mineralproducts.org Communications Consultant Keynes, Wiltshire taken by David Soons Chairman: Martin Riley Tel: 07972 533728 who works for MPA member company Chief Executive: Nigel Jackson Email: [email protected] Aggregate Industries. Copyright: Mineral Products Association 2019 Design: www.generateuk.co.uk Printed on FSC paper 2 BREXIT IS NOT THE ONLY PRIORITY NEWS The MPA has set out its new ‘Priorities for Government’ in a fresh “Government relies on our members to drive to urge cabinet ministers to refocus and support the delivery deliver its priorities, from schools and hospitals to bridges, roads and energy infrastructure. of vital infrastructure schemes. Our members want to see a competitive UK, attracting global investment, with strong Whilst politicians and commentators continue to be preoccupied with Brexit, the new MPA supply chains and robust investment in document is a timely reminder of the responsibility the Government has in setting the housing and infrastructure. conditions for all industry to thrive and invest so that continuing demands for things like mineral products can be met sustainably. “This is vital for our members but also for the Writing to the Chancellor, Sajid Javid MP, and “Our members’ products are essential to the businesses that rely on the products we the Secretary of State for Business, Energy economy and to quality of life, for building provide. The industry provides job and Industrial Strategy, Andrea Leadsom MP, homes and infrastructure projects, and opportunities, skills and progression as Jerry McLaughlin, Executive Director at the underpin critical industries including employers across the country, with 74,000 Mineral Products Association wrote: agriculture and water. people employed by our members.” MPA goes on to remind the Government that The new two-page document, deliberately timed ahead of the Brexit deadline, outlines the industry’s economic success goes hand-in eight priorities which MPA believes will help deliver continuing prosperity for the UK: -hand with its environmental responsibilities, ■ Building confidence for business on which it has a strong track record. investment Companies have an essential part to play in ■ Enhancing industrial the transition to a net zero carbon economy competitiveness by 2050 as well as the circular economy. ■ Boosting growth and productivity For example, the cement sector is a large net ■ Strengthening UK supply chains consumer of other industries’ waste materials, ■ Making industry taxation fairer and the UK leads Europe in the use of recycled and secondary aggregates. MPA’s members are ■ Improving regulation uniquely placed to deliver biodiversity net gain ■ Meeting future demands for mineral through quarry restoration. As Brexit unfolds, products generated by economic mineral products will continue to be essential. growth and development ■ Improving the sustainability of UK ‘Mineral Products Industry Priorities for supply Government’ can be downloaded from the MPA website: www.mineralproducts.org Everybody needs good neighbours A new scheme to help MPA members to engage and build trust with “But it is increasingly important not only to local communities will soon be launched. meet the requirements, but to be seen to be doing so, and we are seeing more and more The new Good Neighbour Scheme, examples of site management teams going currently at pilot stage, provides site above and beyond to meet the expectations of managers with guidance and tools to help local people. them plan, monitor and improve their engagement activity. “Building trust in this way can improve understanding and perceptions of the industry The scheme directly addresses one of MPA’s and help operators develop and maintain a Seven Strategic Priorities relating to People – ‘to good reputation that could be important for engage fully with local communities and strive future proposals. to be good neighbours’. It will assist with the “The industry has an established track record delivery of the MPA Charter and realisation of when it comes to operating sites to the highest “The scheme will also help operators set the MPA Vision. technical and environmental standards,” said out what they are able to commit to so they MPA Chief Executive Nigel Jackson. can communicate with neighbours what is Among the issues highlighted in the scheme reasonable for them to expect.” are public safety, external appearance, plant “Businesses work hard to adhere to planning and stocking areas, noise and vibration, water permissions, environmental permits and For further information contact usage, dust, traffic, complaint handling, visitor numerous other statutory and voluntary Elizabeth Clements, Director – experience and community engagement. controls to ensure that operational impacts are Communications 07775 894285, minimised and mitigated. [email protected] 3 VIEWPOINT Consumption, civilisation and carbon In the light of devastating forest fires, alarming deforestation, This balance between economy and accelerating glacial and polar melting and the recent UN Climate environment underpins the pillars of sustainable development. To understand Change Summit, I feel compelled to add ‘consumption’ into the how to mitigate the environmental effects, climate change debate. we have to appreciate the economic causes. Given that the UK is a comparatively