Jun 29 2008
Boral Bricks, a leading manufacturer and distributor of building and construction materials, has become a Founding Reporter of The Climate Registry.
The Climate Registry is a non-profit organization established to measure and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in a common, accurate and transparent manner consistent across industry sectors and borders. Thirty-nine U.S. states; nine Canadian provinces; six Mexican states; three Native American tribes; and the District of Columbia established The Climate Registry.
“We feel this is an important environmental initiative for our company in our commitment to be an industry leader in sustainability,” said Mary Ann Keon, environmental director for Boral Industries Inc. “Reducing green house gas emissions will have a positive impact on the environment and our company on both a local and global level.”
Boral is pleased to demonstrate environmental stewardship on several fronts by voluntarily committing to measure, independently verify, and publicly report the organization’s GHG emissions on an annual basis utilizing The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol. The protocol is based on the internationally recognized GHG measurement standards of the World Resources Institute and World Business Council on Sustainability.
“Boral has committed to environmental leadership by courageously stepping forward to support The Climate Registry in its preliminary stages. We are deeply grateful for their integral support in helping to address the challenge of climate change,” said Gina McCarthy, chair of The Climate Registry.
Boral Bricks Inc., the nation’s largest brick manufacturer and masonry distributor as well as a Boral Industries Inc. company, embraces the principles of sustainable development for continued success and growth. The clay and shale used to produce brick are locally mined and the mines reclaimed according to federal and state guidelines, which often include wetlands restoration, tree and natural habitat replanting, or water shed development.
Additionally, Boral Bricks has been striving to use renewable energy resources in its manufacturing process. Materials such as sawdust, peanut hulls, tire-derived fuels are used as alternatives for natural gas, a non-renewable resource, to fire our kilns. The two newest plants in Terre Haute, IN and Union City, OK use methane gas from nearby landfills to replace the natural gas. Wood waste or other recycled materials are incorporated into the brick bodies to yield a 20% lighter brick – utilizing less clay and, being lighter, requiring less fuel to ship.