Hanson set responsible standard
HANSON have been certified with the Responsible Sourcing of Materials (RSM) standard for two complete product lines – ready-mixed concrete and aggregates – covering nearly 300 UK production sites.
The BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard (BES) 6001:2008 has been awarded to Hanson’s quarry products division, which encompasses 212 ready-mixed concrete plants, 72 quarries and 40% of the company’s UK workforce.
The RSM standard covers the environmental and social issues for organizational management and supply chain management, including all processes from the origin of raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to point of sale.
For the client, specifier or end-user, RSM accreditation provides assurance that products conform to environmental impact specifications. Responsible sourcing is recognized within the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), counting towards the credits required to assess the code level of a building.
Martin Crow, Hanson UK’s head of environment, said: ‘Our proactive approach to sustainability is something that has been integral to the company for some time, so receiving the new standard for RSM across two product lines is very gratifying. We are one of the first heavy building materials businesses in the UK to be certified.’
During the last few years, Hanson have instigated a number of initiatives to enhance their approach to sustainability. These have included programmes to improve water recycling, minimize waste and reduce energy consumption, as well as the introduction of automated meters to measure the power used by each activity at their various sites.
‘Achieving RSM certification has been an inclusive process with all Hanson management and supervisory staff taking part in sustainability awareness training workshops,’ added Mr Crow.
The Quality Scheme for Ready-Mixed Concrete (QSRMC), which carried out the accreditation assessments, was evaluated for the first time by BRE on this scheme to become a BRE RSM-accredited assessor.
