About the company

Mannok is a leading manufacturer of high-performance building materials and packaging solutions, supplying the construction and industrial sectors across the UK and Ireland. Mannok is dedicated to transitioning from a carbon-intensive operation to a sustainable business. From ambitious carbon reduction targets to harnessing renewable energy and protecting natural habitats, Mannok aims to create lasting value for the environment, communities, and industry.

The issue

Mannok’s core activities are quarrying, processing raw earth minerals and cement production, these have a significant environmental impact, making it their responsibility to operate with care and sustainability. Cement plays a crucial role in building essential infrastructure, and while society relies heavily on it, they must balance this demand by conducting their quarrying activities in a responsible and sustainable manner. Mannok’s environmental team is committed to integrating mitigation measures at every stage, from planning to site closure, ensuring that operations are thoughtfully designed to minimise habitat disruption and prevent biodiversity loss. The main goal is to create an alliance between nature and quarrying activities, to protect and preserve the surrounding areas of our quarries and encourage staff to advocate for biodiversity.

What the company did

Mannok is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its production processes, with a strong focus on biodiversity. To extend this commitment across its supply chain, the company developed tailored supplier questionnaires. These questionnaires assess suppliers on key areas including energy reduction, water conservation, modern slavery prevention, and biodiversity protection. A bespoke grading scheme enables Mannok to identify and work with suppliers who share its vision for tackling climate change and biodiversity loss through a just and fair transition. With over 60% of suppliers responding, many demonstrated active engagement in habitat creation, fossil fuel reduction, and fostering environments where nature can thrive, showcasing collective industry progress toward sustainability and environmental preservation.

At Mannok, people are central to the company’s 2030 sustainability strategy, which is built on the core pillars of People, Planet, and Partners. Through initiatives such as the Kestrel Cam, launched in 2021 at the Swanlinbar quarry, Mannok has actively engaged employees and the wider community in biodiversity conservation. This collaborative project, developed in partnership with Netwatch, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), and ecologist Kez Armstrong, has generated widespread interest and deepened awareness of local ecology. Beyond its own operations, Mannok has also partnered with Mount Lourdes Grammar School to further amplify biodiversity education and appreciation. By fostering habitats for endangered species and promoting more sustainable practices, Mannok continues to demonstrate how industry and nature can thrive together, encouraging others to place greater value on sustainability and biodiversity protection.

Mannok recognises its responsibility as a business to understand and address the impacts its operations may have on biodiversity, both directly and indirectly, throughout the manufacturing process. To explore this, the company conducted a comprehensive internal review of its products and the sites where they are manufactured. This assessment covered the entire value chain, from raw material sourcing and production to consumer use and end-of-life considerations. The review identified key areas where Mannok’s activities could impact local ecosystems, including land use, resource consumption, and habitat loss. The findings were summarised in a structured overview, highlighting the main issues. As a result, Mannok gained a deeper understanding of how its operations interact with nature and where improvements could be made.

Following the internal biodiversity review and in alignment with the company’s Natural Assets Action Plan, Mannok implemented two large-scale tree planting projects aimed at enhancing biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems. At Kinrush, a 4.35-hectare land asset, 9,500 trees were planted, while 7,500 trees were introduced at the Fivemiletown quarry on an overburden store. Both projects focused on the use of native tree species including hazel, oak, rowan, willow, alder, and Scots pine, to restore natural habitats and contribute to carbon sequestration. By integrating initiatives like these into its wider biodiversity strategy, Mannok is actively improving wildlife habitats and supporting woodland restoration. The diverse mix of tree species benefits local pollinators, birds, and small mammals strengthening local ecosystems.

“As part of our 2030 Vision, we have made significant strides in improving biodiversity across our operations, embedding ecological responsibility into core business practices and land management. These actions reflect our long-term commitment to environmental improvement and responsible business leadership.

“As a signatory to the Business in the Community NI Biodiversity Charter, the company is now actively working toward achieving Platinum status through implementing ambitious conservation targets and fostering meaningful partnerships. The support and guidance from BITC has been instrumental in shaping Mannok’s biodiversity journey.

“Mannok will continue to implement initiatives to support and raise awareness of biodiversity the most recent of which is the newly established internal biodiversity committee which will help to drive ecological improvements across all operations.”
Stephen Linden, Environmental Manager, Mannok

How BITC helped Mannok

Business in the Community has played a fundamental role in providing Mannok with a practical framework to advance its biodiversity efforts. This framework has been aligned with the Mannok 2030 Vision, the company’s sustainability roadmap, which guides all divisions in reducing carbon emissions and implementing targeted biodiversity initiatives.