Cement multinationals endorse Climate Convention carbon-reporting codification

Sources: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Geneva; CP staff

WBCSD Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) members concur with formal adoption of the United Nations-crafted Paris Agreement, under which signatory countries pursue long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures. A threshold crossed last month—where more than 50 percent of signatories took official action toward commitments affirmed at the December 2015 Conference of Parties in Paris—triggered a November 5 commencement of GHG management protocols.

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NRMCA releases Industry-Wide Environmental Product Declaration 2.0

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

The second version of the NRMCA Industry-Wide (IW) Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and Benchmark (Industry Average) Report discloses production impacts of 72 concrete mixes with 2,500–8,000 psi design strength, covering the bulk of product used in residential, commercial and public construction. The updated IW EPD is prepared from 88 producers operating 2,500 ready mixed plants, and includes a wide range of mix designs for each strength class, from 100 percent portland cement mixes to those with 50-plus percent fly ash or slag cement factor.

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EPA grant seeds Water Infrastructure Modeling Research Center

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff

A $3.9 million federal grant will enable University of Texas at Austin (UT) to create a research center for sustainable water infrastructure modeling. As cities around the country struggle to manage flooding and pollution from stormwater runoff, “UT will help develop sustainable solutions to 21st century water problems, while working with communities to promote green infrastructure,” affirms EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry.

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Study projects moderate growth for precast in water, wastewater markets

Sources: Freedonia Group, Cleveland; CP staff

Demand for precast concrete water, wastewater and waste-handling products—septic tanks, manholes, supply and conveyance components, grease interceptors, hazardous material containers, among them—is projected to rise 5.1 percent per year to $1.2 billion in 2020, a new Freedonia Group report finds.

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Rebar import investigation proceeds on heels of Trade Commission finding

Sources: Rebar Trade Action Coalition and U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) preliminarily determined by a 6-0 vote there is reasonable indication that concrete reinforcing steel imports from Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey have materially injured the U.S. rebar industry. ITC figures show shipments from the three countries totaled nearly 20 percent of the $4.5 billion in rebar U.S. concrete construction consumed last year.

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