A “people focused” approach to sustainability has won Ibstock Brick two nominations in the Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019.

The brick manufacturer has been shortlisted for the Energy Efficiency category, and Michael McGowan, its Quality, Environmental and Energy Manager, has been shortlisted in the Energy Management Leader of the Year category.

The awards are co-ordinated by environmental publisher edie.net, and recognise businesses that demonstrate excellence in their approach to sustainability.

Ibstock’s People First approach identifies people, as opposed to machinery and processes, as major energy users. The company encourages staff to use good energy-saving practices in their day-to-day work. It also runs training sessions and has created a pocket guide for all employees showing them how to save energy at home and at work, and why it matters.

Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock, said: “It is a real achievement for Ibstock Brick to be shortlisted for these prestigious sustainability awards.

“At the heart of our sustainability strategy is a people-focused approach, which sits alongside our investment in more resource-efficient methods of manufacture.

“With clear targets and a roadmap to achieve these, we find ourselves looking towards a promising future where our impact on the environment is not only minimised but positive.”

Ibstock Brick says it is committed to driving sustainability through investment across its business. Recently it invested significantly in Eclipse, an energy-efficient brickworks at its headquarters in Leicestershire (pictured), which was officially opened in June.

Located on an old landfill site and close to the principal raw materials source, the building meets BREEAM Industrial criteria, is clad in a breathable material to reduce the need for additional ventilation equipment, and consumes energy and resources efficiently.

The winners of the awards will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 6 February 2019.