Cement and construction-materials producer The Holcim Group has embarked upon an ambitious corporate sustainability initiative
that focuses both on operations and products. At the end of last year, Holcim was named "Leader of the Industry" in the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index, a designation that acknowledges the company with the best sustainability performance in the building-materials
industry.
Holcim's commitment to the triple bottom line – an emphasis on economic, environmental and social performance – begins with
a focus on Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) principles. These were established by The United States Green
Building Council to certify sustainable construction methods.
Holcim has developed a building-materials product line – the Envirocore line of products – that contains material that has
been recycled or co-processed. The company is also committed to "eco-efficiency," which means producing more materials with
less energy while generating less waste and pollution. It identifies four performance indicators to measure its success:
- Lowering the percent of clinker in its cement.
- Lowering the consumption of thermal energy.
- The use of waste-derived fuels for power.
- The reuse of cement kiln dust.
NON-HAZARDOUS CRUSHER BACKINGAs part of its corporate commitment to the environment, Metso Minerals has partnered with Copps Industries, Mequon, Wis., to bring a noncorrosive, nonhazardous crusher-backing product to the aggregates
industry. The product, called Enviro-Bak, replaces existing formulations in the marketplace that use solvents and require
strict shipping and handling procedures.
"This new Metso product eliminates some of the regulatory requirements that aggregates producers now face when using crusher-backing
products," said John Stolowski, Metso's general manager, North American marketing.
The two-part compound can be used for backing liners and wear parts on almost any crusher. But with more than 25,000 of its
own crushers sold, Stolowski is counting on Enviro-Bak to become the new standard for use with its equipment.
"We consider this the next generation of crusher backing product," he said, "and with a nonhazardous MSDS designation and
the industry looking for more 'green' options, it is the right product at the right time for producers."
Enviro-Bak was officially introduced to the market at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008 in Las Vegas.
Metso Minerals, http://www.metsominerals.com/
Green Briefs
• PCA touts concrete as sustainable product: A research study by the Portland Cement Association indicates that architects, designers and engineers consider concrete a
"sustainable material," and have chosen it for use in recent projects. The study also measured "green factor" in building-material
products. On a 5.0 scale, concrete measured 4.20, versus 4.03 for wood and 3.85 for steel. "There are few, if any, construction
materials that offer concrete's wide range of sustainable and environmental benefits," said PCA president Brian McCarthy.
The blind study was conducted by a third party, and more than 500 people responded, according to the association.
• Newsletter, web site, cover climate change: Climate change, along with its implications for nearly every industry in every economy in the world, has become a major driver
for business. Strict regulations are expected as the United States joins other nations in a concerted effort to reduce the
emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. In response, newsletter publisher BNA announced the launch of World Climate Change Report and http:// http://climate.bna.com/, two new resources for business executives working in the many different fields that must, together, help the nation shape
and manage its response to climate change. World Climate Change Report will offer information on emissions trading, emission-management tools like carbon credits for investments in technology
that lower energy use, climate change mitigation projects and enforcement/litigation issues. For a trial of World Climate Change Report, contact BNA Customer Relations at 800-372-1033 or visit http:// http://climate.bna.com/.
