US: Martin Marietta Materials has signed a deal to buy 20 aggregates operations in the Southeast US from Blue Water Industries for US$2.05bn. Reuters has reported that the partners expect to close the deal later in 2024. Martin Marietta Materials says that the acquisitions will help it to meet rising national demand for building materials. The North Carolina-based group operates aggregates sites in 28 US states, Canada and the Bahamas.

Martin Marietta Materials previously indicated that recent divestitures in its ready-mix concrete business and other areas would help it to ‘redeploy the proceeds into pure-play aggregates acquisitions.’

Sweden: Heidelberg Materials has won a contract to supply its evoZero net-zero concrete. product for the construction of the new Nobel Center in Stockholm. Heidelberg Materials says that its memorandum of understanding with the Nobel Foundation ‘symbolises an important link between science and the green industrial transformation.’ EvoZero concrete achieves its carbon neutrality through Heidelberg Materials’ use of carbon capture at its cement plants.

Jon Morrish, member of Heidelberg Materials’ managing board responsible for Europe, said “Together with the Nobel Center project, we aim to set a new standard for sustainable construction and pave the way for other future-orientated players. The collaboration enables us to combine the world of science and innovative solutions from our own sector such as evoZero in an exciting way.”

US: CRH has completed its acquisition of a portfolio of ready-mix concrete and cement assets from Martin Marietta Materials for US$2.1bn. The portfolio includes a network of 20 ready-mix concrete plants in South Texas.

UK: Recycl8 has completed its first large-scale commercial project in partnership with Breedon Group. The partners supplied R8 Mix reduced-CO₂ concrete for the installation of an industrial floor slab at Aurora Energy Services site in Inverness. R8 Mix concrete is produced using incinerator bottom ash and Breedon Group’s blended cement.

Recycl8 chief executive officer Mark Gillespie said "We are excited to be working with Aurora Energy Services. It is particularly gratifying for us to be carrying out our first large-scale commercial project with an organisation which is committed to supporting the energy sector transition to net zero, with a particular focus on the renewables sector. With our commitment to fostering a sustainable, circular-economy future for the construction industry by playing our part in lowering carbon emissions from concrete manufacture, we share the same values and synergies."