All eight of Roanoke-based Boxley Concrete plants throughout Virginia and West Virginia have achieved Green-Star Certification by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association(NRMCA)in 2009.
The NRMCA Green-Star program recognizes Ready Mixed companies who maintain environmental management systems that aid in reducing negative environmental impacts resulting from operations. Of the more than 5,000 concrete plants in the U.S., only 60 have achieved Green-Star status.
Boxley plants are the only plants in Virginia and West Virginia to achieve Green-Star Certification.
This is good news for Boxley, though I have to admit to being a little skeptical of environmental certifications being offered by a business's own trade organization. It would be nice to know what the certfication entails and what kind of improvement over the status quo it designates, just to forestall accustations of greenwashing.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great for businesses to have a third-party certfication system from someone like the Sierra Club or Department of Energy. Roanoke's own Cool Green Biz program, the partnership between the Cool Cities Coalitions and the Regional Chamber, is a really good start.