The NRMCA, an association that represents the producers of ready mixed concrete and the companies that provide materials, has certified the first gold level sustainable concrete plant.

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has certified Unibeton's New Port Plant in Doha, Qatar, as the first-ever gold level sustainable concrete plant in NRMCA's Sustainable Concrete Plant Certification Program.

The program is designed to help concrete producers demonstrate excellence in sustainable manufacturing. This includes quantitative, performance-based metrics to provide ready mixed concrete producers with specific guidance to assess their production practices, and implement responsible sourcing strategies that will ultimately lower their overall environmental footprint.

To earn the certification, plant personnel use a document titled Sustainable Concrete Plant Guidelines that rates a plant's level of sustainability within different credit categories. Plants can achieve between 0 and 100 points depending on how many sustainability credits are achieved and their level of performance within each credit. Plants are awarded points according to the following NRMCA Sustainable Concrete Plant Certification point categories:

• Bronze: 30-49 points
• Silver: 50-69 points
• Gold: 70-89 points
• Platinum: 90-100 points

Unibeton's New Port Plant received an unprecedented 83 points, putting it solidly into the Gold level of certification.

"Unibeton should be very proud for having the first plant in the world to certify at the Gold level," said Lionel Lemay, senior vice president of sustainability for NRMCA. "Unibeton has clearly demonstrated its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and continuous environmental improvement." In addition, Lemay indicated that certifying at the Gold level is a remarkable achievement since the program is extremely rigorous.

For more information about the NRMCA please visit nrmca.org.

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