WBCSD releases guidelines for responsible quarrying

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today released Guidelines on Quarry Rehabilitation which provides practical guidance for managing the impacts of quarrying
activities and ensuring that environments are properly revitalized. Led by the
Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), the project was carried out by a group
of member companies and is based on methods that they have successfully
employed.

Philippe Fonta, Managing Director, WBCSD Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) and
Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB), said: “In recognizing their responsibility for effective
quarry rehabilitation, our members want to share their practical experience and expertise
in order to potentially help other companies involved in similar quarrying or rehabilitation
activities. In 2005, all CSI members committed to prepare their rehabilitation plans and
make them public before the operation of new cement sites.”

The Guidelines reflect the principles of quarry rehabilitation, established by consensus
among the CSI members and outlines the conditions and milestones for developing
rehabilitation plans. These include defining context and assessing baseline conditions;
setting technically and financially sustainable objectives; planning finances; developing
and implementing plans; and monitoring, adjustments and post-closure land-use
management. This type of planning constitutes a proactive approach to quarry operations
and rehabilitation, applicable for both new and existing sites. As such, legal compliance
should always be considered as the minimum requirement, and operators should leave
sites in a safe and stable condition.

The Guidelines feature 30 operational case studies, covering a wide range of quarry types
and local habitats around the world. The Guidelines also analyze how legislative environment and external stakeholders can be taken on board and henceforth contribute to the successful development and execution of a rehabilitation plan. Continuous communication and open dialogues with stakeholders play a vital role in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome for both stakeholders and operators. CSI solicited, discussed and considered inputs from a wide range of external reviewers during the drafting process.

Mr. Fonta concluded “We firmly believe that the benefits to the natural environment and
local communities of progressive and pragmatic quarry rehabilitation outweigh the longterm
rehabilitation costs to the cement companies.”

About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a CEO-led organization of forwardthinking companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. Together with its members, the council applies its respected thought leadership and effective advocacy to generate constructive solutions and take shared action. Leveraging its strong relationships with stakeholders as the leading advocate for business, the council helps drive debate and policy change in favor of sustainable development solutions.

The WBCSD provides a forum for its 200 member companies - who represent all business sectors, all continents and a combined revenue of more than $7 trillion - to share best practices on sustainable development issues and to develop innovative tools that change the status quo. The Council also benefits from a network of 60 national and regional business councils and partner organizations, a majority of which are based in developing countries.
www.wbcsd.org

About the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI)
The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) is a global effort by 22 leading cement producers, with
operations in more than 100 countries. Collectively these companies account for around 30% of the world’s cement production and range in size from very large multinationals to smaller local
producers. All CSI members have integrated sustainable development into their business
strategies and operations, as they seek strong financial performance with an equally strong
commitment to social and environmental responsibility. The CSI is an initiative of the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
www.wbcsdcement.org