Holcim UK circular construction push: recycling strategy and targets for engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on The Construction Index
30 Second Briefing
Holcim UK has promoted former northern aggregates regional director Shaun Elliott to managing director for recycling, tasking him with maximising recycling performance and integrating it across the business. The company now operates eight recycling centres after acquiring PJ Thory, Gemmix, Pro Minimix and Thames Materials, expanding capacity to process construction and demolition materials into certified secondary aggregates and cementitious products. Globally, Holcim is targeting annual recycling of 20 million tonnes of CDM by 2030, lifting cement recycled content to 30% and using 70 million tonnes of waste and by-products as alternative fuels and raw materials.
Technical Brief
- Recycling centres are configured to convert CDM into high-quality, certified secondary aggregates and cementitious products.
- Certification implies compliance with existing aggregate and cement standards, enabling structural and pavement-grade reuse rather than downcycling.
- Integration of recycling into aggregates, ready-mix and logistics units should streamline CDM feedstock sourcing and outbound product distribution.
- Stated ambition that “every tonne” delivers “maximum value” points to tighter yield control and reduced landfill residues.
- Emphasis on “technology, assets and expertise” indicates existing fixed-plant crushing, screening and possibly advanced separation for contaminants.
Our Take
Holcim UK’s M&A activity around PJ Thory, Gemmix and Pro Minimix, combined with a 20 Mt/y CDM recycling target, signals a push to internalise both primary aggregates and secondary/recycled feedstock streams rather than relying on third‑party recyclers in the UK cement and concrete supply chain.
The 30% recycled-content target for cement by 2030 aligns with Holcim UK’s later public advocacy for mandatory EPDs, suggesting they are positioning to monetise lower embodied-carbon mixes once disclosure becomes a regulatory requirement on UK projects.
Within our Materials coverage, cement is one of the few commodities where corporate circularity targets (like Holcim’s 70 Mt waste and by-product recycling goal) are being paired with acquisitions of local recycling and secondary aggregate assets, which may pressure smaller UK independents that lack similar vertical integration options.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
