GCCA shares new sustainability and biodiversity guidelines

Minimising the impact of extraction activity is an important priority for the cement and concrete industry globally. Creating new habitats through rehabilitation and mitigation is already established practice in many countries, and the GCCA’s new guidelines will help to support the wider adoption of these practices across the sector.

Benjamin Sporton, GCCA Chief Executive said: “These new guidelines are an important example of the ongoing collaborative work being undertaken by GCCA members to bring about improvements in performance across our industry. Biodiversity is just one area where collaboration and the sharing of good practice can bring about very positive outcomes for stakeholders including the local communities where our members operate.”

Among the priority areas covered by the new guidelines are the inclusion of social, economic and environmental considerations for the future use of the sites once extraction activity ceases as well as relevant legislative requirements. The guidelines also advocate for the application of progressive rehabilitation where possible as good practice during the lifetime of a quarry. Stakeholder involvement and consultation is also recommended at all stages, as is the practice of ensuring rehabilitation and biodiversity plans are in place before the commencement of extraction activities at new sites.

In addition to the new guidelines, the GCCA has also announced that it has joined ‘Business for Nature’, a global coalition bringing together influential organisations and forward-thinking businesses with the aim of demonstrating action to reverse nature loss.

Eva Zabey, Executive Director of Business for Nature, said, “We are delighted to be able to welcome GCCA to Business for Nature. Now more than ever, the business community has its part to play and is uniting behind and calling on governments to protect ecosystems. We are looking forward to working with GCCA to further incorporate nature into the heart of mainstream business, finance and government decision making.”

Benjamin Sporton, GCCA Chief Executive, said: “We are excited to be joining Business for Nature and are looking forward to working with them and their partner organisations across the business community. We believe our sector has a strong and positive story to tell and we very much share the objectives on the prevention of nature loss and the vital role of protecting and enhancing biodiversity.”

The United Nations has declared 2020 as a super year for nature and biodiversity “to help achieve human wellbeing, tackle climate change and protect our living planet.” The GCCA Sustainability Guidelines for Quarry Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Management can be found on the GCCA website.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/06052020/gcca-shares-new-sustainability-and-biodiversity-guidelines/