SUSTAINABILITY
NSSGA POSITION:
The members of the NSSGA identify sustainability as a business approach that integrates environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity to ensure the long-term supply of aggregate materials to society. NSSGA recognizes that sustainable practices are necessary today to preserve the potential for a quality life for future generations. NSSGA members sustain the communities in which they operate by providing raw materials as natural building blocks for quality of life.
BACKGROUND:
In 2002, at the World Summit on
Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, 193 countries including the U.S. concluded that minerals were important to 
the economic and social development of many countries and social, environmental and economic values were
essential considerations for aggregate
and mineral operations.
In 2007, NSSGA’s Board of Directors approved NSSGA’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Aggregates Operations that take a mining life cycle approach to the sustainable contributions of the aggregates industry in each phase of planning, extraction, reclamation and post-mining land use. Our members are conscious of the need to provide economic, social and environmental value for future generations and the communities in which they operate.
TALKING POINTS:
- Sustainability is a developing issue in the markets where NSSGA members operate. Public resource agencies are implementing frameworks based on sustainable development. NSSGA member companies will increase their abilities to compete effectively by implementing sustainability guidelines.
- The long-term viability of the industry is dependent on obtaining and maintaining a social license to operate. These licenses are based on discretionary decisions by local government bodies that are heavily influenced by political/public opinion. NSSGA member companies will enhance their ability to obtain these licenses when applying sustainability guidelines.
- Sustainability emphasizes an efficient use of resources that reduces costs by reducing waste and contributes to profitability.
- Implementation of sustainability principles can reduce the risk of adverse legal and regulatory actions.
- Sustainability is an integrated concept. Implementing sustainability guidelines will help to coordinate and improve the effectiveness of multi-disciplinary groups such as community relations, EH&S, operations and legal in NSSGA member companies.
Updated: November 2008
