The 3 P's of Sustainability
Posted on Thu, May 19, 2011 @ 04:04 PM
Some of the talk about sustainability these days can get confusing. Most of sustainability talk relating to the concrete industry seems to deal with the sustainable aspects of concrete itself, like the advantages of using ready mixed, precast, etc. Sure these products all exhibit sustainable characteristics, certainly, but is this the whole picture?
I'd like to introduce what I call the "3 P's" of sustainability - Plants, Process, and Product.
Plants
Plants refer to exactly that - the plants that make the sustainable products. A concrete producer can easily make a "sustainable product" but if that plant doesn't operate in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner itself, then are they participating in the sustainability movement? There's been time I've been at plants which weren't up to snuff environmentally at all, yet these plants are trying to latch onto the "green" or sustainable movement. To me, it starts at the plant. You've got to be doing the right things, be in compliance with all necessary environmental rules and regulations, and be engaging in sustainable practices (such as recycling and conservation of water, concrete and other solid materials, and energy) in order to really be a part of the movement.
Product
The second P, and the one getting the most emphasis, seems to be the product. There are many construction materials out there trying to promote and market their green qualities. Some are more sustainable than others, and with good information easy to find, consumers can make their own smart choices about which they feel is most sustainable, and which one they'll ultimately use.
Process
The third P is also vitally important, yet somewhat neglected. It's the process, and by that I mean each step of the way throughout the entire manufacturing process of the material. I'm talking about initial development of raw materials by outside parties, to transportation, activities of employees, marketing and distribution of the products, to finally the delivery and use. Basically, the entire impact of that product, from inception to end of use.
Any comprehensive program that evaluates the level of sustainability should take this into consideration, such as the NRMCA Sustainable Plant certification program does.
There's a lot of things to think about when it comes to these "3 P's", like carbon footprint, water footprint, material choice, down to what kind of power you use and what kind of trucks you drive. To really determine how your operation works, and how environmentally friendly/sustainable you are, you need to consider all these areas. However, focusing on only one of the areas, or putting too much attention on any one at the exclusion of the others, can provide a false view. Sustainability is not something that takes 5 minutes of thinking and you're done. It's an evolving process that can be beneficial monetarily and environmentally, and is something we should all strive for, regardless of what we make or produce.
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