Environmental Questions & Answers

It's great to see the concrete industry take their environmental performance so seriously, but is the NRMCA Green-Star environmental management system right for you? Here we discuss the industry specific NRMCA Green-Star certification vs the internationally recognized ISO 14001 environmental management system, with the aim of helping you decide which is right for you.

We've been getting a lot of requests for more information about how concrete producers can improve their environmental programs at their facility. It's easy. There are so many benefits of having a sound environmental program, that it’s almost hard to imagine running a company today without one. The concrete industry is in a unique position, and we’re asked all the time by concrete producers:

“What is the difference between a ISO 14001 EMS vs NRMCA Green-Star EMS?”

Over the years, we've found many facilities need a way to keep their environmental program in check, while continually improving their operations as per investor, staff, customer, and community demands. We suggest for most facilities they look into an EMS, and here we discuss what they are, and why they could be useful at many different types of facilities.

Chances are, if you're reading this post, you're in two types of categories. You've either heard about an EMS and want to develop one, or you've never heard of one, and have to develop one.

Either way, we're setting out to answer clearly what one is, and what they mean to you.

It seems like there's a renewed push for organizations to develop and follow an Environmental Management System (EMS) more than ever. I feel like it's a good way for companies to really lock down their environmental program, and help segue way them into a brighter, more sustainable future. Here's the top 7 reasons why you should look into getting an EMS at your facility.

We've gotten some very serious inquiries lately about them. It seems like I am hearing more interest within the past few months than I have heard in the past few years! Maybe much of this may be driven by changes coming about in the updated ISO 14001 EMS standards and the potential interaction of these standards within the larger world of sustainability.

No matter what the cause, it’s nice to know that the environmental community doesn’t treat them as a passing fad, and they recognize the importance and usefulness of an EMS in today’s corporate world.

About a month ago, I was talking to a precast producer about his new environmental management system, and how it was impacting his operation. He said his costs had dropped slightly, his regulators and their inspections went a lot easier, and his employees seemed to actually understand and buy into the whole program. He's the first to say "I'm not perfect" but he's working on it.

It got me thinking... what would the ideal concrete plant (precast, ready mix, brick, etc.) be? What issues, environmental or otherwise, would they have to overcome?