SILVER SPRING, MD - Two more of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's producer members have earned Green-Star certification for their concrete batch plants. Lafarge's Glenwood, GA, plant and U.S. Concrete's Alliance and DeSoto plants from its Dallas/Ft. Worth market have each earned the Green-Star designation.

NRMCA's Green-Star program is a plant-specific certification that utilizes an Environmental Management System (EMS) based on a model of continual improvement. Potential Green-Star benefits include:

• Favored Status - Customers favor doing business with organizations that are known to be protective of the environment.
• Increased Revenues - Organizations will attain savings through efforts in pollution prevention and waste reduction.
• Improved Efficiency - Sound, consistent environmental management methods will improve profits.
• Community Goodwill - An organization's stance on environmental policy and action may be the most important factor in achieving and maintaining a community's goodwill.
• Reduction of Liability and Risk - An organization is less apt to have environmental problems by using a pro-active EMS that documents results and is committed to continual improvement.

"This is another example of Lafarge's and U.S. Concrete's commitment to the environment," said NRMCA Senior Vice President Gary Mullings. "It is impressive that they are training employees to be mindful of turning off motors and other electrical equipment when not in use."

"Lafarge and U.S. Concrete have top leadership support and have implemented the principles of Green-Star into their daily business operating model by monitoring and measuring metrics on a monthly basis," said Denise Corrales, chairperson of the NRMCA Environmental Task Group from member company CEMEX. "The environmental training is broken down by job classification so employees know what subjects and what intervals the environmental training will be held."

"At Lafarge we are constantly looking for ways to achieve environmental excellence," said Mike Taylor, vice president of Lafarge's US-East Concrete Division. "We have found that in every case these improvements or simple changes in our practice have not only improved the way our plants look in the community but the way the community looks at us."

"Redi-Mix Concrete and parent company, U.S. Concrete, Inc., are very excited about being part of the NRMCA Green-Star program," said Terry Green, U.S. Concrete's senior vice president of operations. "Along with other U.S. Concrete environmental initiatives like EF Technology, this is an outstanding opportunity to further demonstrate our company's commitment to environmental excellence, green building construction and sustainability."