Sustainable Development Task Force
The UK cement industry established a
Sustainable Development Task Force in November 2004 for the purpose
of developing a framework within which sustainable development
could be incorporated into the future activities of the BCA and its
members by November 2005. In addition, the task force considered
ways to improve the industry's role of delivering sustainable
construction in a sustainable society.
The year long task force has achieved its
objective of setting an agenda for future activities and shaping
industry’s sustainability strategy.
The task force focused on five principal
areas: improving communications; the business case for cement; a
Carbon Strategy to take the industry to 2050; a Cement Makers’
Code; and annual publication of a corporate responsibility report,
Performance.
Task force achievements
- Identifying stakeholder groups with whom
it needs to be engaged in dialogue
- Development of a long-term carbon
strategy, demonstrating the industry's commitment to reducing
direct carbon dioxide emissions from cement kilns and transport,
and indirectly from electricity use
- Building a sustainability Business Case for
the industry to aid discussion with stakeholders, government
departments and agencies
- Publishing Performance, the
industry's corporate responsibility report
- Developing a Cement Makers' Code
In November 2005, the UK cement industry’s
Sustainable Development Task Force published working towards
sustainability (pdf, 745kb), a report launched by Jonathan
Porritt, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, at the
House of Commons, setting the strategy for the UK cement industry’s
response to sustainable development. This first report was the
outcome of the initial work developed by the task force towards the
achievement of the cement industry vision and objectives on
sustainability.
The Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, then Minister of
Industry and the Regions, welcomed the initiative and said: "Cement
is an essential building material for this country and it is good
to see an industry looking to foster a dialogue with those it
affects, for the benefit of all."
Read Alun Michael's speech from
the launch event.
Read the press release issued on the
launch event.
In May 2007, a second report working
towards sustainability 2 has been published which charts
further progress the cement industry has made against the
objectives it set itself on sustainability.
Feedback
The cement industry is proud of its progress to date and is
determined to achieve its goal of being recognised as leading the
way by 2010. The BCA welcomes any comment you may have on this
report or any other aspect of the industry's work. Contact details.