TYRONE-based AG has made a £2 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment to significantly reduce its carbon emissions.
The concrete building products manufacturer has installed a wash plant at its Fivemiletown site, as part of its overall environmental strategy and commitment to responsible and sustainable operating practice, with projected carbon savings of 51 per cent in the first year following installation.
The investment in a wash plant allows AG to deliver on product specifications through a more efficient method and further reduce carbon emissions through internal haulage efficiencies.
By reclaiming raw material that previously could not have been used in the manufacturing process, the wash plant increases yield and reduces the quantities of quarried materials needed; reducing the carbon content of its paving and walling products, while not compromising on the quality of the finished goods.
Chief financial officer Keith Scott said the investment is a response to the ‘strategic needs’ and ‘opportunities’ within the business.
He added: “The big aim for us heading towards 2020 is for operations to be more efficient and product manufacturing to be more environmentally responsible; reducing carbon emissions and cutting down on unnecessary production outputs without compromising on the quality of the finished goods.
The plant will soon be fully powered by renewable energy; through an anaerobic digestor, which should further reduce the carbon content of our products – a big selling point for customers who want to source responsibly and a huge area of opportunity for us as we seek to grow the business.”
The environmental credentials of this investment are further strengthened by the awarding of a Certificate of Environmental Benefit as an efficient water reuse system.
AG has long been a champion of environmental practice having recently been reaccredited to ISO 14001 for its environmental management systems.
In 2017, a six-figure investment in a biodiversity strategy saw the appointment of an environment manager to promote and protect the numerous species of indigenous wildlife across the company’s many sites.
The installation was supported through Invest NI’s resource efficiency capital grant.
