MPA Report Highlights the Crucial Role of Mineral Products in UK’s Sustainable Growth

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) recently published its comprehensive Profile of the UK Mineral Products Industry – 2025 Edition, underscoring the vital role mineral products play in the UK economy and sustainable development.

Key Industry Insights

• Per Capita Usage: Every UK resident uses approximately 5.8 tonnes of mineral products annually, equivalent to a large waste skip.
• Industry Scale: In 2023, the sector supplied 397 million tonnes of essential materials including aggregates, concrete, asphalt, cement, and lime.
• Economic Impact:
  • Generated £6.7 billion in direct gross value added (GVA).
  • Supported £253 billion in wider UK economic activity, around 11% of national GDP.
  • Provided 89,000 direct jobs and supported 3.4 million jobs across related industries.

Foundation of the UK Economy and Sustainability Progress

MPA’s director of economic affairs, Aurelie Delannoy, emphasized that mineral products underpin every aspect of the UK’s infrastructure, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors. These materials are crucial for constructing homes, roads, hospitals, factories, wind turbines, and solar panels.

Sustainability Highlights:

• 63% reduction in CO₂ emissions from UK cement and concrete production since 1990.
• 31% of construction aggregates are now sourced from recycled or secondary materials, ranking among Europe’s highest rates.
• Over 50 years of quarry restoration, creating 8,000 hectares of priority habitats that support biodiversity and nature recovery.

Challenges and Calls for Action

The report warns against complacency over mineral supply, noting a worrying decline in permitted reserves of construction aggregates. This trend jeopardizes future infrastructure delivery, housing development, and achievement of Net Zero targets. Delannoy stressed the necessity of proactive planning, permitting, and management to secure long-term domestic mineral supplies.

Conclusion

The MPA’s 2025 profile offers a detailed, data-driven snapshot of an industry fundamental to the UK’s built environment and green transition. It highlights extraordinary sustainability strides while signaling urgent needs for strategic resource governance to ensure ongoing economic resilience.

The full report is available for download here.

Tags: Mineral Products Association, Sustainable Construction, UK Economy, Carbon Reduction, Quarry Restoration, Resource Planning

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