Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.
A new certification program is geared to help NRMCA producer members demonstrate excellence in sustainable development. Its quantitative, performance-based metrics provide specific guidance for assessing production practices and implementing strategies that will ultimately lower plants’ overall footprint.
Using “Sustainable Concrete Plant Guidelines,” producer staff will rate a plant’s level of sustainability with the objective of reducing carbon footprint, energy consumption, water use and waste; increasing mixes’ recycled material content; and, improving human health and social concerns. Plants can achieve up to 100 points depending on how many sustainability credits are logged and their level of performance within each credit category.
NRMCA will relay producer documentation and forms to a third-party auditor to determine if a plant meets Guidelines criteria and qualifies for points claimed. Candidate operations will be awarded appropriate Sustainable Concrete Plant Certification level: Bronze, 30-49 points; Silver, 50-69 points; Gold, 70-89 points; or, Platinum, 90-100 points.
Certification is valid for two years. Plant personnel can use the Guidelines to implement new or improve existing sustainable practices with the objective of recertifying at a higher level. Sustainable Concrete Plants joins NRMCA’s quality-oriented Plant and Truck Certification, as well as an environmental management-oriented Green-Star. The newest program was developed over a three-year process with major RMC Research & Education Foundation funding. NRMCA crafted the Guidelines with input from concrete producers, plus sustainability and environmental management experts. — www.nrmca.org/sustainability/certification