The company said that the takeover represents a “key pillar” of its wider growth strategy in the circular economy, with particular focus on boosting capacity for recycling and secondary aggregate production.
It will also allow Holcim more presence in the construction demolition materials (CDM) market.
Lee Sleight, CEO of Holcim UK, commented: “I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of Thames Materials and feel that it’s really exciting for them to be joining Holcim.
“It strengthens our footprint in the London construction market and aligns to our ambition of making sustainable construction a reality as we work towards becoming the leading UK provider of sustainable solutions.
“We only have one planet. Now, more than ever, we must ensure we prolong the life of our natural resources and look to build new from old as much as possible.
“Thames also has a great synergy with our existing recycling and construction demolition materials business in the East of London and the acquisition will allow us to develop our services and reach to support the move to a more circular economy – especially with the need for greater use of recycled or reused materials in projects within the capital.
“By 2030 we have set ourselves a target to process 6.5 million tonnes of CDM annually.”
Thames Materials
Formed in 1995, Thames Materials handles, removes and recycles construction waste.
The business employs 90 people and operates a fleet of 62 vehicles from its head office in Uxbridge.
Its main recycling operations are based at a 12-acre facility in Harefield, where annual processing capacity was recently increased to 750,000 tonnes.
The company received around 400,000 tonnes of construction waste for treatment in 2024, recovering approximately 340,000 tonnes for sale into the secondary aggregate market.
Where materials have limited recycling potential, Thames Materials diverted them into land restoration projects rather than landfill.
With around 5% of material ending up in landfill, Holcim UK said the acquisition aligned closely with its ambitions for “building new from old” and supporting the UK’s progressing circular economy.
The site serves construction projects across London and neighbouring counties, processing a range of CDM.
Martin Clarke, Managing Director of Thames Materials, added: “We’re really looking forward to taking the business forward with Holcim UK and harnessing their expertise and networks.
“This move allows us to continue on our growth trajectory and expand both our capacity and offering.
“Holcim is a market leader in the UK and internationally with a clearly articulated vision for circularity and sustainability and we are excited to be a part of that.”
Subscribe for free