ROCKWOOL UK has reduced carbon emissions across its construction supply chain after introducing electric and biomethane-powered HGVs into its UK delivery operations.
The insulation manufacturer said the move has cut more than 630 tonnes of CO2 emissions over a 15-month period on selected delivery routes from its Bridgend stone wool factory in South Wales. The reduction is equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of around 15,000 mature trees.
The initiative forms part of a partnership with freight decarbonisation specialist FSEW and means that 22% of ROCKWOOL UK’s deliveries are now completed using low-carbon vehicles. The change supports the ROCKWOOL Group’s wider commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including its target to reach net zero by 2050 and to cut emissions by one third by 2034.
Freight and distribution emissions sit within Scope 3, one of the most difficult areas for manufacturers supplying construction products to decarbonise. ROCKWOOL said the shift away from a diesel-dominated fleet towards electric and 100% biomethane vehicles has delivered measurable progress in this area.
ROCKWOOL UK began trialling low-carbon freight with Cardiff-based FSEW at the end of 2023. During the first full year of operation in 2024, the partnership reduced logistics-related emissions by more than 433 tonnes of CO2 By the end of the first quarter of 2025, a further 200 tonnes had been saved, following the rollout of additional routes across the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland.
Digital twin route mapping technology has also been deployed to ensure vehicles can refuel reliably along delivery routes, helping to avoid disruption to construction supply schedules.
Tim Eaton, supply chain director at ROCKWOOL UK, said: “Tackling freight emissions is one of the toughest challenges in construction, but our partnership with FSEW shows it can be done. We’re really happy with the results so far and look forward to building on them in the future.”
ROCKWOOL has operated from South Wales since 1979 and supplies stone wool insulation products to roofing, façade and building envelope projects across the UK. The business has recently expanded its UK presence with the launch of a fire-stopping Centre of Excellence at Hams Hall, Birmingham, and has announced proposals for a second manufacturing facility in the West Midlands.
Nick Wilson, managing director for the UK and Ireland at ROCKWOOL, said transport emissions are becoming an increasingly important issue for construction clients.
“With transport and distribution emissions rising on customer agendas, this partnership not only reduces the carbon footprint of our own deliveries, but also paves the way for scalable, additional low-carbon freight solutions that support the UK’s net-zero agenda,” he said.
He added: “Through collaborations like this as well as deploying in-house technological solutions, we will continue working hard to reduce our carbon footprint in line with ROCKWOOL Group’s global targets.”
ROCKWOOL said further delivery routes are expected to transition to low-carbon vehicles as the programme develops, contributing to lower-emission supply chains for construction projects across the UK.
