Hanson has announced the creation of a new recycling business line as part of its strategy to conserve natural materials and promote the circular economy.

The company will recover construction and demolition waste and process and reuse it to complement and grow its business and deliver sustainable products to its customers.

The new business line is headed by James Whitelaw, who moves from his role as aggregates managing director to become managing director of the new recycling business. He continues to report directly to CEO Simon Willis.

James is responsible for identifying opportunities to grow organically using the company’s existing capabilities and to integrate acquisitions such as Manchester-based A1 Services.

As a result of James’s move, concrete managing director Brian Charleton becomes aggregates managing director and Gordon Napier, previously concrete regional director, joins the executive team as managing director of Hanson’s concrete business.

“Promoting circularity by recycling, reusing and reducing the use of primary raw materials is crucial to reaching net zero,” said Simon Willis.

“The development of a separate recycling business line will allow us to provide the most sustainable products to our customers through circularity and innovation to enable building more, with less. It is another significant step towards achieving our aim of being the industry leader in the supply of sustainable, circular products.”