Tarmac has expanded the availability of its Portland limestone cement (PLC) across England and Wales, after recent changes to national concrete standards enabled wider use of the lower-carbon material.
The move follows an update to the BS 8500 standard, which now allows for broader application of PLC in construction.
Tarmac’s CEM II/A-L and CEM II/A-LL 52,5N cement is being produced at the firm’s Tunstead plant in Derbyshire and its Aberthaw facility in South Wales, and will be delivered via its UK depot network.
The cement is UKCA-marked and has third-party certification, ensuring compliance with current quality and performance benchmarks. Tarmac expects continued growth in uptake from infrastructure, commercial and residential sectors amid rising interest in sustainable concrete solutions.
PLC includes up to 10 per cent ground limestone, reducing embodied carbon by between 7 and 9 per cent compared with traditional Portland cement, Tarmac said in a statement yesterday (7 May).
The company added that the product is particularly suitable for ready-mixed concrete and precast applications, offering strength and durability while lowering emissions.
“The changes to BS 8500 are an important milestone in unlocking PLC’s wider use,” said Kevan Greenhalgh, national business manager for bulk cement at Tarmac, said the company was supporting customers with specification-led solutions that meet growing demand for sustainable materials.
Source: Tarmac press release