Peel Ports Group becomes first UK port operator to join CO2nstructZero framework

Peel Ports Group becomes first UK port operator to join CO2nstructZero framework

Peel Ports Group has become the first UK port operator to join the Construction Leadership Council’s Co2nstructZero programme.

The move marks a major step for the Group as it scales up its efforts to support the construction industry on its decarbonisation journey.

Co2nstructZero is the sector’s response to the Government’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, which was announced in 2020.

The framework brings together leading businesses to accelerate progress towards the 2050 decarbonisation target, ensuring a collaborative approach to yield genuinely greener operations.

Peel Ports Group aims to help the industry cut emissions by facilitating greener, more sustainable supply chain processes, including importing materials closer to their end destinations.

Its involvement demonstrates a continued commitment to working with the sector to find practical solutions that will reduce the carbon impact of major construction projects.

The port operator has also launched its Sustainable Construction Partner programme, an initiative aimed at connecting materials and logistics suppliers with end users.

The initiative is already helping to create greener, more efficient supply chains for its founding partners, which include Ecocem, Hercules, Bretts, Holcim, Mibau Stema and Peel Ports Group customers.

The programme will enable the opportunity to develop dedicated construction consolidation hubs at every Peel Ports Group location in the UK.

This follows the success of pilot hubs at the Port of London Medway and Port of East Anglia in Great Yarmouth, which will support major infrastructure projects such as Sizewell C, the Lower Thames Crossing, and the Heathrow Airport expansion.

Alongside bringing sustainable materials closer to the point of use, the partnership will allow large volumes of materials to move cost-effectively by rail or water, supporting Government targets to shift freight to lower-carbon transport.

David Huck, Chief Operations Officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “As decarbonisation deadlines approach, the demand for greener construction propositions is rising fast. The construction industry has made good progress in reducing building emissions, but there remains a big opportunity to cut carbon earlier through smarter sourcing and logistics.

“Our ports play a key role in the construction supply chain, so it’s fantastic that the CLC have welcomed us onto the Co2nstructZero framework. We’re leading the way with greener logistics management by rethinking how materials enter and move around the UK.

“We’re confident this approach will lower costs and emissions, while delivering these hugely needed infrastructure projects.”