The Brick Development Association has published the first KPI updates as part of the brick industry's ongoing commitment to measure annually its sustainability performance.

The results are encouraging and show once more that the brick sector is a leading force for sustainability in the construction industry.
Entitled A Sustainability Strategy for the Brick Industry – Update 2004, the report shows the progress made by the industry in key areas. These include environmental protection, where 70% of clay brick production is now covered by environmental management schemes. In addition, there is 100% compliance with the requirements for the control of fluoride emissions. And of the 0.28% of the production process that is waste, just 0.01% is hazardous material.
Commenting on the update, BDA director Michael Driver said: "The brick industry is a resource that should be used responsibly. It is well established and employs thousands of people directly and indirectly. It produces one of the UK's most popular building materials and makes a significant contribution towards the fabric of our communities. By publishing KPIs and measuring our performance against them, we show a responsibility in the use of resources that is the keystone of sustainability."
Other areas of improvement include health and safety, where all BDA member companies have committed to a 10-year programme of workplace improvements. Also a key objective is using natural resources prudently where currently, 40 % of all water used is recovered and reused. Furthermore, since the introduction of the Climate Change Agreement, energy consumption has been reduced. In order to maintain economic growth, the industry has invested £122m in plant and machinery over the past five years.


  • Copies of the report can be downloaded from the BDA's website at www.brick.org.uk

Brick Bulletin June 2004