May 25 2010
Hanson Building Products, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heavy building products for the construction industry, believes the path to sustainability is through the people. Hanson’s commitment to rebuilding and improving our infrastructure for future generations is reflected by a comprehensive sustainability vision and plan developed and implemented by its employees.
“Building on the past. Restoring the balance. Creating the future. This is our company’s sustainability vision statement created by the Hanson Building Products cross-functional, cross-divisional and cross-geographical Sustainability Task Force. The vision is disseminated from management to the field each day,” said Richard Manning, president Hanson Building Products North America. “It incorporates key pillars needed for executing practical sustainability – the use of traditional, reliable building materials, recycling and repurposing products for infinite use and dedication to the safety of our employees, infrastructure and communities we serve.”
Within its expansive range of companies, Hanson’s products have always been a smart choice for the environment. Hanson is demonstrating other measurable ways to showcase its leadership and commitment to sustainability.
Production and Operational Practices
- Appointment of Sustainability Manager for leadership in measuring and promoting sustainable practices
- Reduced transportation costs and emissions through network of manufacturing facilities and delivery capabilities and utilization of local suppliers and service providers to ensure regional availability for products and services
- Water saving and reuse techniques in facilities
- Reduced waste through recycling and/or reuse in production of new materials
- Proprietary LEED® calculator created and implemented for customer use and aid for LEED certification
- Strategies to reduce paper and Styrofoam use and include recycling bins at offices and facilities
Environment and Infrastructure
- Products recognized by USGBC for various LEED credits
- Reduced carbon footprint and better overall lifecycle impact compared to alternative products
- Ability for product reclamation and repurposing for use in building, infrastructure and community projects
- Rehabilitation of worked out reserves into water sports facilities and nature reserves where communities of wildlife can thrive
Occupational Health and Safety
- Safe and efficient operations practices
- Promote team collaboration in executing safety programs and other preventative measures
- Facilities’ completion of extensive industry certification programs for additional precaution and education
Hanson’s continued focus on sustainability includes the following goals for 2010 and 2011:
- Increase participation through product usage on LEED projects by 10%
- Grow employee base of LEED Green Associate or Accredited Professional credentials by a minimum of two team members in each additional division within company
- Educate employees and increase awareness about sustainability over 2009 levels
- Develop a 2011 sustainability report for measuring standards and benchmarks
“Being a responsible corporation is a concept that affects every facet of our business, the society in which we work and the world in which we live. Hanson has a history of inherent sustainability and will continue to focus on our advocacy of and our business practices to build a sustainable infrastructure for generations to come,” concluded Manning.
Source: http://hansonbuildingproducts.com/