Aggregate Industries Hires Sustainability Director, Strives to Decarbonize Cement Production: 4 Things to Know

Aggregate Industries, a building materials and cement supplier and a member of Holcim Group, has hired Anna Baker (pictured above) as sustainability director.

Baker joins Aggregate Industries at a key time. Cement and concrete production generate as much as 9% of all human CO₂ emissions each year, according to Scientific America. Aggregate Industries is striving to decarbonize its cement production by the end of this decade.

Amid that backdrop, here are four things to know about Baker's experience and Aggregate Industry's sustainability strategy.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Aggregate Industries, founded in 1858, is based in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The company, backed by roughly 3,700 employees, manufactures and supplies various building materials -- such as stone, asphalt and concrete to the construction industry. Holcim Group acquired the business in 2014.

2. Sustainability Strategy: Aggregate Industries unveiled its sustainability strategy -- known as Building Progress for a Sustainable Future in May 2022. The company is striving to achieve net zero carbon emissions before 2050. Nearer term, the company is striving to decarbonize its cement production by 2030. The overall Aggregate Industries carbon reduction plan is here.

3. Sustainability Director Expertise: Anna Baker has 20 years of sustainability expertise in the construction industry and will be part Aggregate Industries' Executive Committee, the company said. She previously held key sustainability positions at Kier Group (2022-2024), Careys (2020-2022) and Sir Robert McAlpine.

4. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Aggregate Industries CEO Dragan Maksimovic said: “Decarbonising our operations and the wider industry is central to our vision and strategy as a company. “So it is great to have Anna joining us at this exciting time. She has an established track record in sustainability within a construction setting and understands the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We look forward to her continuing to take us forward on our journey.”

Added Baker: “Aggregate Industries is a future focused and innovative company with sustainability at the heart of its vision. I’m thrilled to be joining this business and look forward to working alongside the talented teams here to deliver an ambitious sustainability agenda that will add real value for our customers and communities.”

Aggregate Industries Sustainability Director: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.