Project Description
The Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT), Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) and Institute of Quarrying (IQ) partnered with The Driven Company to deliver a collaborative Carbon Literacy programme tailored specifically to the minerals and highways sector.
Recognising that decarbonisation across infrastructure cannot be addressed in silos, the three professional bodies chose to work collectively embedding a shared understanding of climate science, embodied carbon and whole-life emissions across quarrying, asphalt production and highway engineering.
The goal was to create a unified, sector-specific approach to carbon literacy that strengthened professional competence, institutional leadership and measurable carbon reduction across the supply chain.
Work Undertaken
Driven designed and delivered a Carbon Literacy programme specific to minerals and highways, aligned with The Carbon Literacy Project framework and contextualised for each institute’s membership audience.
The delivery followed a phased, governance-led approach:
Leadership Endorsement and Early Adoption – Training was first delivered to Board and Council members across all three institutes. This secured visible top-level commitment, ensured informed governance oversight and created senior ambassadors to champion the rollout internally.
Joint Steering and Shared Governance – A cross-institution steering group was established with defined terms of reference, clear role allocation and consensus-based decision-making. The group aligned objectives, messaging and communications to ensure consistent delivery while maintaining relevance to each professional audience.
Sector-Specific Contextualisation Across the Supply Chain- While delivered as a joint programme, the learning was contextualised to reflect:
- Quarrying and aggregates (embodied carbon and resource efficiency)
- Asphalt manufacturing (process emissions and materials innovation)
- Highway engineering (design, maintenance and whole-life carbon decisions)
This integrated approach reinforced interdependencies across the infrastructure lifecycle.
Coordinated Rollout and Communication- Rather than separate procurement and delivery, the institutes commissioned jointly, shared administration and coordinated promotion – improving efficiency, reducing duplication and maximising reach.
Participants developed accredited carbon reduction pledges aligned to their spheres of influence, translating knowledge into practical action.
Crucially, the sessions were delivered as a joint cohort, enabling dialogue across institutional boundaries. Engineers, materials specialists and industry leaders explored how decisions in one part of the value chain influence carbon outcomes elsewhere.
The training emphasised collaboration as a catalyst for system-level change.
Benefits to the Client
Unified Professional Leadership on Climate – The collaboration enabled IAT, IHE and IQ to present a coherent, cross-sector commitment to decarbonisation, strengthening credibility across the infrastructure lifecycle.
Quantified Carbon Influence – Based on certified participants and projected membership rollout (assuming an average 1.5t CO₂e reduction influenced per trained professional), the initiative has influenced:
- IAT: 1,255 tonnes CO₂e
- IHE: 527 tonnes CO₂e
- IQ: 1,201 tonnes CO₂e
Collective Potential Influence: 2,983 tonnes CO₂e
This moves carbon literacy from awareness into measurable carbon reduction potential
Improved Efficiency and Value for Money – Joint commissioning reduced cost duplication, shared administrative burden and streamlined communication, delivering economies of scale and consistent quality across audiences.
Stronger Cross-Sector Relationships – Regular steering meetings and shared delivery fostered transparency, trust and improved workflow between institutions, relationships that extend beyond this programme and strengthen future collaboration.
Cultural Shift from Training to Professional Responsibility – Carbon literacy is now positioned not as optional CPD, but as a core professional competency embedded within institutional strategy and leadership conversations.
