Portland Cement Association's Executive Committee approved a goal addressing the implementation of environmental management systems (EMS) for cement plants in the United States. At its meeting on July 28 in Washington, D.C., the committee set goals for at least 40% of the nation's cement plants to have implemented an auditable and verifiable EMS by the end of 2006, 75% by the end of 2010, and 90% by the end of 2020.

An EMS identifies the environmental aspects and impacts of a plant's activities and facilitates continuous improvement of environmental performance. “The decision to adopt EMS is consistent with the cement industry's long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Andy O'Hare, vice president of regulatory affairs for PCA.

This effort is the latest component of the industry's multi-year, sustainable development initiative, Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World, which helps outline guidelines for the industry, educate architects and designers about the benefits of concrete in sustainable development, and encourage sustainable cement manufacturing processes. In June, PCA unveiled the Cement Manufacturing Sustainability Program, which began with reduction targets for carbon dioxide emissions and cement kiln dust, and included the call to implement EMS.