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James Hardie's Annual Sustainability Report 2025

James Hardie Industries plc has recently unveiled its Annual Sustainability Report, titled Building Resilience. As a leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, James Hardie is committed to advancing sustainability and driving community engagement. The company believes sustainability is not just a goal but a core aspect of how it operates. Within the report, CEO Aaron Erter emphasized the company’s continuous evolution and innovation, stating that they strive to ensure that homes are built to last. This journey particularly reflects upon recent developments such as the acquisition of The AZEK® Company in July 2025.

Key Initiatives

The report outlines initiatives aligned with James Hardie’s mission to create a better future through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts. These initiatives are categorized under four prominent pillars: Zero Harm, Planet, Innovation, and Communities.

1. Integration into Business Processes

James Hardie is actively incorporating sustainability strategies into their manufacturing processes. A notable milestone was the establishment of short-term internal natural gas targets which contributed to a 14% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions within the fiscal year 2025 compared to the 2021 baseline.

2. Circular Supply Chain

In their quest to minimize waste, the company succeeded in diverting over 11% of manufacturing waste from landfills in North America. Moreover, in the Asia-Pacific region, James Hardie achieved an impressive 98% reduction in landfill waste, either by recycling those materials or collaborating with local companies.

3. Commitment to Safety

Prioritizing employee safety, James Hardie is investing more than $75 million over three years in strategic safety infrastructure globally. Enhanced safety standards have been set for energy control, machine guarding, and other critical safety protocols to ensure a safer workplace.

4. Product Innovation

Product innovation remains a cornerstone of James Hardie’s sustainability efforts. Notable new products include the TimberHue™ Collection, known for its dual-tone finishes designed to endure harsh weather. Additionally, the expansion of the Hardie Architectural Collection introduces robust materials providing exceptional durability against fire damage, contributing to sustainable home exteriors.

5. Community Engagement

In fiscal year 2025, James Hardie positively impacted the communities where it operates by contributing $1.65 billion through various initiatives, including collaboration with Habitat for Humanity® International, which helped build climate-resilient homes. Furthermore, the launch of the BuildWell program is geared toward enhancing the well-being of employees by providing tailored educational resources.

The AZEK® Company Integration

Following the acquisition of The AZEK® Company, James Hardie now boasts a diversified portfolio of outdoor living brands. Committed to sustainability, AZEK® focuses on integrating recycled content into its manufacturing processes while striving to reduce environmental impact. The synergy between James Hardie and AZEK® is expected to bolster their sustainability leadership even further.

Future Outlook

James Hardie’s sustainability objectives are closely tied to stakeholder interests and overall corporate goals. The company enacted new and more ambitious sustainability goals in fiscal year 2023 and set both short-term and long-term regional targets to ensure accountability across its global operations. With holistic involvement from cross-functional teams, from research to finance and human resources, the commitment to sustainability remains unwavering.

As James Hardie continues to adapt and innovate within the realm of sustainability, the company not only aims for a reduced environmental footprint but also to uplift communities, ensuring a brighter future for all stakeholders involved.

For further insights, please visit James Hardie.

About James Hardie: James Hardie Industries is renowned for engineered exterior home solutions, aiming to provide beauty, resilience, and high performance with a commitment to sustainable practices. Headquartered in Ireland, James Hardie operates globally across various regions delivering innovative building materials.