CRH Canada’s Dufferin Aggregates Acton Quarry is the first quarry in the world to receive certification as a supplier of responsibly sourced stone, sand and gravel, according to the Cornerstone Standards Council (CSC).
CSC is a collaboration of community, environmental and industry stakeholders committed to developing a world-class certification program that breaks new ground and establishes a leadership standard for the responsible siting and operation of all aggregates operations in Ontario, Canada.
“CRH Canada and Dufferin Aggregates are extremely proud that our Acton Quarry has been officially recognized as the world’s first certified aggregate site, and hope that this achievement will be a catalyst for the industry,” said Baudouin Nizet, president and CEO, CRH Canada Group Inc. “This certification is a testament to our commitment to address the demand for aggregates that consider community and environmental needs. Now any purchaser of aggregates, be it the public or the private sector, will have the confidence in knowing that they are buying responsibly sourced building materials.”
In January 2015, CSC released its Responsible Aggregates Standard, providing the parameters by which an aggregate quarry could achieve certification in Ontario. CRH Canada and Dufferin Aggregates have a long-standing and well established commitment to the communities in which they operate and to being stewards of the natural environment. To be officially certified and recognized for these efforts and to have product labeled as CSC certified is an important opportunity for the company.
“This certificate speaks to the relationship between CRH Canada and the Town of Halton Hills,” said Rick Bonnette, mayor of Halton Hills. “By following CSC’s Standards and working proactively to address environmental and social impacts the Acton Quarry has been able to incorporate sustainability principles into its ongoing operations and after use. This has been a key component of the recent approval for expansion of the quarry.”
“Aggregates … are the building blocks of our roads and buildings. But there is a tension between our need for these products, the views of communities adjacent to these operations, and the need to protect farmland and the environment. For the first time, a pathway exists for those building blocks to be sustainably sourced,” said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defense. “CSC certification can improve industry practices, reduce conflict and generate a market for sustainable products. CRH Canada should be congratulated for being the first operation to certify and for forging a new path that other aggregate operations can follow.”