IQ Emerald Challenge 2025: Driving Innovation for a Sustainable Future

The Institute of Quarrying (IQ) is pleased to announce the return of the Emerald Challenge, a grant scheme dedicated to supporting industry professionals to develop innovative solutions that drive sustainability in the mineral products sector. The challenge provides a £5,000 grant for the successful entrant, enabling them to bring forward a new idea that will contribute to the industry's transition towards Net Zero Carbon.

Innovation for Environmental Progress
The mineral products industry produces over 419 million tonnes of materials annually (more than 1 million tonnes per day) to support the nation's construction and development needs.¹ However, as global climate concerns escalate, it is imperative that the industry pioneers solutions that not only reduce environmental impact but also promote long-term sustainability. The Emerald Challenge serves as a catalyst for change, empowering individuals and organisations to lead the way in resource efficiency, carbon reduction, and environmental stewardship.

James Thorne, IQ CEO, explains: “Sustainability and decarbonisation have become central to industry transformation. The climate emergency demands that we rethink how we use energy and materials, embrace the principles of the circular economy, and enhance biodiversity. The mineral products industry has a crucial role in ensuring the UK meets its Net Zero Carbon target by 2050, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Supporting Industry Leaders to Innovate
The Emerald Challenge is open to IQ Technical Members (TMIQ), Members (MIQ), and Fellows (FIQ). The grant provides an opportunity to fund projects and research ideas that contribute to an organisation's environmental strategy and the wider industry's sustainability goals.

Applicants are encouraged to submit projects covering key areas such as decarbonisation, energy efficiency, circular economy practices, biodiversity and habitat improvement, pollution mitigation, and water management. The challenge fosters a culture of innovation by supporting professionals in exploring and implementing solutions that make a tangible impact.

Celebrating Past Winners
The Emerald Challenge has already supported groundbreaking projects that are shaping the future of the mineral products industry:

Andrew Gall, Silt Sump: Focused on pollution control and water management, Andrew developed an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for managing silt during timber haulage road construction. His innovative filtration system, "Silt Sump," provides a recyclable and affordable method to improve water runoff quality. The project has gained significant interest from civil engineers and ecologists, demonstrating its potential impact beyond Scotland.

Andrew commented that: “Without the Emerald Challenge, my idea would have remained as nothing more. By winning I got the impetus and confidence to do something I passionately believed in and make a success of it.”

Oliver Kibble, Tarmac, and Thomas Clifford, GEARS: Their project aimed to reduce CO2 emissions in hard rock quarries through enhanced blast fragmentation. By integrating digital monitoring tools, drone surveys, and AI-driven analysis, the team optimized blast designs to minimize emissions, reduce secondary breakage, and improve operational efficiency. The project also provided training opportunities for apprentices, fostering industry-wide skill development. As the project progresses, it is expected to deliver measurable CO2 reductions and cost savings for quarry operations.

Oliver further noted that: “The Emerald Challenge inspired us to present the idea and winning it inspired the management teams to get behind and support the research.”

How to Apply
Applications for the 2025 Emerald Challenge grant open on 1 April 2025. The winner will be announced at the prestigious IQ Fellows Lunch in November 2025, offering a platform to showcase their contribution to a more sustainable industry.

Further details on eligibility, project criteria, and application guidelines can be found online at: https://www.quarrying.org/emerald-challenge.

For additional enquiries, contact Sarah Fry at sarah.fry@quarrying.org.