MPA releases three sustainable development reports

MPA and two of its constituent bodies, the British Lime Association (BLA) and the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA), have published their latest Sustainable Development (SD) Reports with the aim of further improving the quality and reporting of sustainability data to achieve more transparency and better communication. The Association feels that it these reports are an important marker of progress amid a difficult economic environment in which the industry is now operating at the same market levels as in the mid 1960’s

The highlights of MPA’s own SD Report include:

• Further improvements in industry health and safety supported by award winning MPA initiatives.
• New policy and initiative to improve the safety of vulnerable road users.
• Continuing reductions in industry carbon emissions – cement emissions down 55% since 1990.
• Increasing focus on the contribution concrete construction can make to reducing energy use and carbon emissions during the operational life of buildings.
• Delivery of 20% of aggregates & 19% of cement by non-road modes.
• 29% of the GB aggregates market is supplied by recycled and secondary materials – over twice as high as the European average.
• 40% of fuel used for cement manufacture comes from waste-derived sources.
• Improving biodiversity and nature conservation remain key industry objectives supported by broader liaison with conservation bodies.

While this, MPA’s 4^th SD report, suggests that the mineral products industry makes an essential contribution to national and local economies, the UK economy and its sustainability, the cost of environmental and planning regulation for the industry is high – currently around GB£400 million pa. MPA believes that regulation to encourage sustainable development is reasonable, proportionate, consistent and effectively implemented.

The second report from the British Lime Association incorporates data from BLA’s three associate members. This increased coverage means that a more accurate picture of lime production can be presented.

Another significant development since the last report is the formulation of the Environment Agency’s Sector Plan, which incorporates the lime sector. Both the Sector Plan and the BLA SD report will enable the industry to look forward and focus on building on previous achievements.

Highlights from the BLA SD Report (2005 – 2011 comparison) include:

• Total CO₂ emissions/t high calcium lime manufactured reduced by 11%.
• SO emissions/t high calcium lime manufactured decreased by 78%.
• SO emissions/t dolomite manufactured decreased by 20%.
• Point source dust emissions/t high calcium lime manufactured decreased by 39%.
• Point source dust emissions/t dolomite manufactured reduced by 77%.
• Waste sent to landfill reduced by 94%/t lime manufactured.
• Waste derived material made up 36% of combustion fuel used for dolomite production.
• Environmental incidents reduced by 60%.

The marine aggregate sector’s 6th sustainable development report continues the BMAPA’s ongoing initiative to publish a wide range of data to provide a comprehensive measure of the sustainable development performance of the sector as a whole.

Major national construction projects such as the 2012 Olympic Park, Crossrail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel serve to demonstrate the crucial role that marine aggregates play in our everyday modern life. In supporting these demands, the marine aggregate sector needs the ability to access extremely localised, economically viable marine sand and gravel deposits. 

Highlights from the BMAPA SD Report include:

• The area of seabed licensed for dredging reduced by 1.3% to 1274 km². Hours dredged increased by 13.2% to 18 841 hours.
• Regional environmental assessments now completed in four regions in support of a licence renewal programme.
• While total CO₂ emissions increased by 13.8%, emissions/t landed decreased by 3.8%.
• BMAPA produced 14 electronic member alerts as part of an extensive health and safety programme.

Adapted from press release by Jack Davidson.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/07012013/mpa_releases_sustainable_development_reports_815/