James Hardie™ have released its annual Sustainability Report, outlining the company’s progress toward its sustainability goals during fiscal year 2022, which ended on March 31, 2022. James Hardie’s 2022 Sustainability Report, Building Sustainable Communities, details a strategy that focuses on four key pillars: innovation in sustainable products and building practices, Zero Harm culture, minimising impact on environment, and positively impacting local communities. 

Key highlights from the 2022 Sustainability Report include:

• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity, supported by the elimination of coal boilers in Australia

• Implementation of new water-saving technologies and standardised processes

• Decreased landfill waste through LEAN and increased beneficial reuse of our manufacturing waste

• Appointment of James Hardie’s first Vice President of ESG and Chief Sustainability Officer, Jill Kolling

Jill Kolling said: “We remain more committed than ever to innovating our product pipeline and operational practices, while listening to and engaging our employees, customers, and shareholders. The past year was a significant year of growth for our company globally, we are proud of our progress and we are committed to doing more. We look forward to growing our company alongside our goal of helping to build stronger, more sustainable communities.”

James Hardie’s sustainability strategy is integrated with its global strategy for value creation and operational performance.

Sustainability Report At-A-Glance:

I. Environment Our environmental commitments include reducing waste, conserving water and energy, renewing and recycling resources, and protecting the environment – while delivering a high-value product and strong alternative to traditional building materials. We continue to invest and make progress towards our environmental commitments.

• 21% reduction in scope 1+2 greenhouse gas intensity (MT CO2e/$ revenue) in calendar year 2021 (“CY21”) from calendar year 2019 (“CY19”) baseline against a goal of 40% by 2030

• 47% reduction in landfill waste intensity (MT/$ revenue) in CY21 from CY19 baseline against a goal of 50% by 2030

• 3.87 million additional cubic feet of water recycled in CY21 from CY19 baseline against the goal of 20 million additional cubic feet

Sustainability in Practice:

• After 50 years of continuous use, the coal boiler at the Carole Park plant in Queensland, Australia was shut down in March 2022 to make way for new and more energy efficient natural gas boilers. The new gas boilers are expected to achieve a 65% reduction in greenhouse gases versus the coal boilers, along with a reduction in overall site greenhouse gas emissions.

• More than two million cubic feet of water was saved in CY21 when James Hardie implemented new technologies at its Pulaski, Virginia plant. The water savings has benefitted the local community by lessening demand on the town’s water source and treatment facilities.

• James Hardie recently signed a multi-year contract with a local company for proprietary beneficial reuse of manufacturing waste from our Cleburne and Waxahachie plants in Texas.

• Through a waste takeback program in Europe, trim cuttings are being salvaged from customers and recycled into new Fermacell^® fiber gypsum boards, which are made of 100% recycled wastepaper.

II. Communities At James Hardie, we care deeply about how our business affects local communities. We manage our community value creation by employing, sourcing, delivering, and giving locally. Our plants and offices support local communities in several ways:

• Contributed $1.42 billion in economic value to communities in which James Hardie operates

• 80% of raw materials sourced locally

• 65% of products delivered locally

• 75% of staff hired from the local community

• When violent storms hit Kentucky and Tennessee in December 2021, James Hardie responded by donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross and by providing Habitat for Humanity with product to build/rebuild at least 50 homes in the region.

• James Hardie responded to the heavy rains and flooding in Germany in July 2021 by donating a combined €100,000 in relief funds and product.

• In North Eastern Arnhem land in Northern Australia, James Hardie is donating funds and materials to help build a school of arts and culture for women and children impacted by domestic violence.

III. Zero Harm At James Hardie, safety is a non-negotiable value that is imbedded into the organisational culture at all our factories and offices. We prioritise the protection of our people and those who interact with our products. Building better safety systems is at the heart of James Hardie’s Zero Harm program. Safety is embedded in our corporate culture 24/7 across our global operations.

• Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) was 1.22, below the industry average of 3.8.

IV. Innovation Fiber cement technology is renowned for its durability and long-lasting beauty, which deliver value to homeowners over the long term. Consumer insights continued to serve as a strategic tool for building value in James Hardie’s innovative product line in calendar year 2022.

• The Hardie^® Architectural Collection was introduced at the NAHB: International Builder Show in February 2022.

• In FY22, 26% of revenue was derived from products with environmental product declarations (EPD), against a goal of 80% by 2030

James Hardie manages environmental impact through integrated operating and management systems such as the Hardie Manufacturing Operating System and LEAN manufacturing processes. In FY22, James Hardie generated more than $3.6 billion in net sales (a 24% increase over FY21) and more than $621 million in net income (a 36% increase over FY21).

Download The Sustainability Report