Europe’s top performing quarry operators have been put in the spotlight by the 962 UEPG’s 2010 Sustainable Development Awards. Thirty companies from 10 different countries received accolades at the event held in Munich, Germany last night.
In the biodiversity category created to celebrate the UN International Year of Bioodiversity, Austria-based 1435 Welser Kieswereke Truel won the award for small companies, while the made award had joint winners of 680 Holcim Spain and Germany’s 1440 Hülskens Wesel. The economic contribution award was presented to Spain’s Aricemex, while Austria’s 1443 Asamer Kies und Betonwerbung and Ireland’s McGraths Limestone (pictured) won awards for environmental best practice for a large and small company, respectively.
In the health and safety category, Hanson’s UK operation took the top prize and 643 Cemex’s Austrian business was presented with a special award. Germany’s 1445 Norddeutsche Naturstein scooped the local community partnership award and 725 Lafarge’s palaeontology research in France won it a special award.
In the restoration category, Italy’s 1447 Cave Germaire took the top prize with Spain-based 1448 Curanta securing the small company award. Lafarge’s work on the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK helped it to win a special award.
All other nominated projects were presented with certificates of excellence by the independent judging committee.
The UEPG has said that its awards illustrate the commitment of the European Aggregates Industry by promoting the spread of best practice and encouraging projects which go beyond what is required by planners or regulators. It aims at rewarding aggregates companies that have successfully integrated the social, economic and environmental dimension of sustainable development into their operations by concrete achievements beyond what is expected, and to encourage the whole industry to reinforce its commitment to sustainable development.
