Gladstone Pointing Limited's carbon footprint - delivering sustainability
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 19
Gladstone Pointing Limited's Commitment to Sustainability
At Gladstone Pointing Limited, we take our environmental responsibility seriously. Our total annual carbon footprint is between 104-106 kg CO₂ equivalent. This footprint is comparable to one person flying one-way from East Midlands Airport to Dublin or Belfast, or driving a petrol car for 500 miles, which is roughly the distance from East Midlands to Swansea or Plymouth.
If we were to use cement mortar instead of lime mortar, our carbon footprint would increase significantly. It would rise to about 580-600 kg CO₂ equivalent. To put that into perspective, a cement-mortar footprint is akin to one person flying one-way from East Midlands Airport to Tenerife or driving a petrol car for 2,400 miles, which is the distance to Riyadh or Cairo.
CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) is short for *carbon dioxide equivalent. It’s a single unit that lets you express the warming effect ofany greenhouse gas as if it were an equivalent amount of CO₂.
How Gladstone Pointing Limited's Carbon Footprint is Calculated
At Gladstone Pointing Limited, we predominantly use lime mortar mixes based on lime putty. This lime is quarried and purchased in Buxton. We use approximately 0.5 tonnes of lime putty each year, resulting in a total of 300-310 kg CO₂ equivalent.
In addition, we incorporate some Natural Hydraulic lime, which accounts for about 10-20% of our total lime usage. This lime is quarried and manufactured in France before being transported to the UK. We use around 0.1 tonnes of Natural Hydraulic lime annually, contributing approximately 35-40 kg CO₂e to our footprint.
We also source East Midlands sand from local suppliers. This sand is typically a good match for the mortar used in homes originally built in the area. Each year, we use about 2 tonnes of sand, which adds approximately 7-12 kg CO₂e to our emissions.
Minimising Waste
We strive to minimise waste from sand sifting by selling graded gravel obtained from the sand. This gravel can be used in gardens or for pets. We produce about 0.1 tonnes of 5mm gravel and 0.5 tonnes of 2mm gravel, saving around 0.6–1.8 kg CO₂e.
When it comes to transportation, we prefer using electric vehicles for longer distances. However, for jobs close to our home base, we opt for a hand trolley. This choice results in an additional 25–35 kg CO₂e.
We dispose of old mortar and unusable bricks or stones responsibly. We use Nottinghamshire County Council's commercial disposal services, although we always aim to reuse bricks whenever possible. This process involves around 2-3 tonnes of waste, contributing approximately 3–11 kg CO₂e.
The Benefits of Lime Mortar
One of the remarkable aspects of lime mortar is its ability to absorb carbon dioxide during the curing process. For every 2.6 tonnes of lime mortar, we can absorb between 265–300 kg CO₂. This characteristic makes lime mortar not only a sustainable choice but also a beneficial one for our environment.
In summary, our commitment to sustainability is reflected in every aspect of our work at Gladstone Pointing Limited. By using lime mortar and implementing eco-friendly practices, we contribute to a healthier planet while preserving the historical integrity of period properties.
