Enva APCr Aggregate Achieves BSI Certification to BS EN 13055 for Concrete Applications

Industry-leading certification confirms that recycled lightweight aggregate meets recognised standards for use in concrete, mortar and grout, while delivering substantial carbon reductions compared with conventional aggregates.

Enva, one the UK and Ireland’s leading environmental services and resource recovery businesses, has become the first producer in Scotland of a lightweight aggregate derived from recycled Air Pollution Control residue (APCr) ash to achieve BSI certification to BS EN 13055-1:2002/AC:2004 for use in concrete, mortar and grout applications.

The milestone confirms the product meets recognised industry standards for quality, grading and performance consistency, creating a new certified route for the beneficial use of APCr ash within the construction sector.

Produced at Enva's Paisley facility, the innovative aggregate represents a significant step forward for both the construction and resource recovery sectors, creating a new route for the beneficial use of APCr ash while providing customers with a sustainable alternative to conventional aggregates.

The aggregate is produced through Enva's APCr conditioning process, which transforms a challenging waste stream into a valuable construction material. Recognised under an End of Waste agreement with SEPA, the process produces a certified aggregate that can be used as a substitute for virgin materials.

The Paisley facility is capable of treating up to 20,000 tonnes of APCr and fly ash residues each year, transforming a material previously destined for hazardous landfill into a valuable construction resource. Every tonne of recycled aggregate produced helps reduce demand for virgin quarried materials while supporting the construction sector's transition towards a more circular economy.

In addition to meeting rigorous quality standards, the aggregate delivers substantial environmental and commercial benefits. An independently conducted Life Cycle Assessment found that the product has a carbon footprint of just 0.61 kg CO₂e per tonne following End of Waste status. This compares favourably with conventional aggregates, which typically carry a footprint of around 5 kg CO₂e per tonne, representing an 87.8% reduction in carbon emissions. The lightweight aggregate also provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional concrete sands and aggregates while helping customers reduce the embodied carbon of concrete blends.

The product is already being used by customers in the manufacture of precast concrete products including concrete blocks and drainage rings, as well as within blended concrete mixes for slabs and flooring applications.

James Marsden, Managing Director Specialist GB, at Enva, said:

"Achieving BSI certification to BS EN 13055 is a landmark achievement not only for Enva but for the wider construction and resource recovery sectors. It demonstrates that materials recovered from challenging waste streams can meet the highest industry standards while delivering significant environmental and commercial benefits.

By transforming APCr ash into a certified construction product, we are helping customers reduce both material costs and carbon emissions, while supporting the transition to a more circular economy."

Enva is now targeting wider adoption across the concrete manufacturing sector, working with medium and large-volume users while welcoming opportunities with organisations of all sizes seeking to improve sustainability performance and reduce reliance on virgin materials.

The certification reinforces Enva's commitment to developing innovative recycling solutions that divert hazardous waste from disposal, recover valuable resources and support the UK's net zero ambitions. Through its Paisley facility, Enva is helping transform a challenging waste stream into a certified construction product that reduces reliance on virgin aggregates and lowers the environmental impact of construction projects.

If you would like further information or discuss how this can add value to your business, please contact us.

ENDS

Notes:

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), carried out in accordance with ISO 14040/44 and EN 15804, found that the product has a carbon footprint of approximately 0.61 kg CO₂e per tonne at the factory gate (post End‑of‑Waste status, A1-A3).

Under the LCA methodology applied (cut‑off allocation), upstream impacts associated with the original waste generation are attributed to the primary producer. On a comparable cradle-to-gate basis, conventional virgin aggregates are typically reported at c. 5 kg CO₂e per tonne, indicating a substantially lower carbon footprint of up to 88%, for the Enva recycled aggregate within the defined system boundary.