Ibstock Partners with Recycl8 to Drive Sustainable Concrete Solutions for Network Rail

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14 May 2025

At Ibstock, WE ARE proud to be at the forefront of sustainability and innovation in the construction industry. Earlier in May, we had the pleasure of hosting the team from Recycl8 for a productive visit to our facilities, where we are collaborating to advance sustainable concrete solutions for key infrastructure projects.

A Collaborative Effort for Sustainable Concrete Innovation

Recycl8, a leading sustainable technology firm, has been working alongside Ibstock to produce cable trough production trial units for Network Rail. These units are produced using Recycl8's R8Mix technology, a cutting-edge solution designed to lower carbon emissions in concrete production. This partnership is part of a larger effort driven by Scotland’s Lower Carbon Concrete Collective (LCCC), a collaborative initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of lower-carbon concrete solutions in Scotland.

The LCCC is made up of major stakeholders, including Network Rail, Scottish Water, Scottish Power, Transport Scotland and SSE, along with leading construction material manufacturers like Ibstock, Breedon and Marshalls. This collective ecosystem is dedicated to driving the development of sustainable infrastructure and solutions across the country.

Recycl8’s Vision for a Circular Economy

During their visit, Recycl8 team members Mark Gillespie (CEO), Jim Young (Technical Industry Consultant), and Daniel Wisely (Graduate Civil Engineer) had the opportunity to tour our facilities and learn more about how Ibstock is helping advance sustainable building materials. The collaboration highlights our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the circular economy.

Mark Gillespie, CEO of Recycl8, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying:

“I’d like to extend our thanks to Steve Pugh and everyone at Ibstock for the warm welcome and the insightful site visit. We are delighted to be working with Ibstock and Network Rail as part of the LCCC. Being part of the collective gives us a fantastic platform to showcase the capabilities of our sustainable, Circular Economy lower carbon concrete technology. Collaborating with such high-profile strategic partners is absolutely key to unlocking the potential of our technology and driving down carbon emissions across our built environment and infrastructure. We are looking forward to seeing the units installed on site and supporting Network Rail in exploring more sustainable infrastructure solutions.”

Ibstock’s Commitment to Sustainable Solutions

At Ibstock, we are dedicated to creating environmentally responsible building materials that meet the growing demand for sustainable infrastructure. Our involvement in the Lower Carbon Concrete Collective (LCCC) is just one example of how we are integrating sustainable technologies into our products and solutions. By partnering with innovative companies like Recycl8, we are advancing the use of lower-carbon concrete in key infrastructure projects, helping reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry.

This collaboration is particularly exciting as we look toward a future where sustainable practices and circular economy principles play a key role in shaping the built environment.

Looking Ahead: A more Sustainable Future for Infrastructure

The successful trial production of cable trough units using R8Mix technology marks an important milestone in our joint efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of infrastructure projects. By continuing to innovate and collaborate with industry leaders, Ibstock is playing an active role in delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions that can positively impact both our communities and the planet.

As we look ahead, we are excited about the future possibilities of sustainable concrete and circular economy solutions. This partnership with Recycl8, along with our continued work with the Lower Carbon Concrete Collective, will help pave the way for a more sustainable future in construction and infrastructure.

Learn More About Our Sustainability Initiatives

Discover how Ibstock is leading the way in sustainability by exploring our full range of eco-friendly products and solutions on our sustainability page.

This article was originally covered on the RMAS Briefing note, download here.