Responsibly Sourced Construction Products from Aggregate Industries

Client: Aggregate Industries – Bardon Hill, Leicestershire
Timeframe: March 2009 – March 2010

Client Challenge:

Following the launch by BRE Global of BES 6001 The Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products, Aggregate Industries recognised at a very early stage the importance and market advantage that third-party certification demonstrating the responsible sourcing of their products would offer them.
Aggregate Industries was the first construction materials producer to seek responsible sourcing certification from BRE Global.

The BRE Global approach:

Aggregate Industries adopted a staged approach to securing responsible sourcing certification.

It first sought the certification of products from a multi-product site (aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and block paving from Barton-under Needwood in Staffordshire) in March 2009. They were successful, securing certification at the ‘Very Good’ level.

Aggregate Industries was then better able to appreciate the process of responsible sourcing certification and subsequently, in August 2009, submitted its entire organisation and products for responsible sourcing certification. Expert BRE Global auditors visited over 20 Aggregate Industries sites to evaluate their performance. BES 6001 focuses primarily on the Organisational Management, Supply Chain Management, and Environmental and Social aspects of organisations. At this stage the entire organisation and its products secured a ‘Good’ rating.

Finally, in March 2010, one of Aggregate Industries’ premium sites, Perry Barr Ready Mix plant, after much work to develop and refine systems was re-submitted for certification and secured the first ‘Excellent’ certification score.

Key outcomes:

Aggregate Industries pride itself in being ‘the responsible source’ for construction materials and have established a suite of sustainability policies across their organisation. They have significant levels of certification to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. Their supply chain is well regulated and managed. Aggregate Industries’ view is that BES 6001 is an excellent way to draw all these initiatives together under a single certified process to demonstrate an holistic approach to a wide range of ethical and sustainability issues.

Responsible sourcing certification now enables Aggregate Industries to demonstrate its independently verified responsible sourcing credentials to prospective clients, clients who are increasingly demanding formal responsible sourcing certification of the products they specify. Such clients include the Olympic Development Authority which is making significant use of BES 6001 responsibly sourced concrete in the Olympic Park through Aggregate Industries’ London Concrete brand.

Following the award of Aggregate Industries’ first certificate, all the major concrete and aggregate companies in the UK have followed suit and have secured BES 6001 responsible sourcing certification. To date (June 2010) Aggregate Industries remain the only Asphalt producer with BES 6001 certification.

Testimonial:

Aggregate Industries is delighted with BRE Global’s responsible sourcing certification activity. Bill Bolsover, CEO of Aggregate Industries, says, ‘Responsible sourcing is believed in and supported company wide allowing Aggregate Industries’ customers to source with great confidence. The business will now be working towards BES 6001 ‘Excellent’ across all of its operations.’