The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has published guidelines aimed at further improving the biodiversity performance of the industry's quarries.
The GCCA says the guidelines support the Association’s Sustainability Charter implementation and represent a collaborative effort by association member companies to improve overall performance in biodiversity management and the rehabilitation of quarries.
Member companies will use the guidelines to implement agreed good practices as well as a framework for reporting progress against key performance indicators.
GCCA chief executive Benjamin Sporton says: “These new guidelines are an important example of the ongoing collaborative work being undertaken by GCCA members to bring about improvements in performance across our industry.
"Biodiversity is just one area where collaboration and the sharing of good practice can bring about very positive outcomes for stakeholders including the local communities where our members operate.”
The guidelines prioritise the inclusion of social, economic and environmental considerations for the future use of the sites once extraction activity ceases as well as relevant legislative requirements.
They also advocate for the application of progressive rehabilitation where possible as good practice during the lifetime of a quarry.
It recommends stakeholder involvement and consultation at all stages as well as ensuring rehabilitation and biodiversity plans are in place before the commencement of extraction activities at new sites.
Additionally, the GCCA has joined Business for Nature, a global coalition that brings together organisations and businesses with the aim of demonstrating action to reverse nature loss.
Eva Zabey, executive director of Business for Nature, says: “Now more than ever, the business community has its part to play and is uniting behind and calling on governments to protect ecosystems.”
The United Nations has declared 2020 as a super year for nature and biodiversity “to help achieve human well-being, tackle climate change and protect our living planet.”
The GCCA Sustainability Guidelines for Quarry Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Management can be found here: https://gccassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GCCA_Guidelines_Sustainability_Biodiversity_Quarry_Rehabilitation_May_2020.pdf
