Turkey's first sustainability certifications for concrete and cement issued

The Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) Regional System Operator, Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, has certified the first ready-mixed concrete facility and cement plant under the "Responsible Sourcing Certification System" introduced to the country. Following inspections conducted by KGS Economic Enterprise, the certification body of the Concrete Sustainability Council and Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, the first certificate was issued to the Gebze Ready-Mixed Concrete Facility operated by Akçansa Çimento San. ve Tic. AŞ. Following this certification, Akçansa Büyükçekmece Cement Plant also qualified to receive the "Sustainability Council Responsible Sourcing Certificate". Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (THBB), which has been working for 30 years to ensure that concrete is produced in accordance with standards and correct concrete applications are used in construction, is taking the lead in developments regarding sustainability. THBB, which has made significant contributions to sector development through quality, environmental and occupational safety practices, has focused on sustainability—a model that addresses environmental balance and economic growth together, ensures efficient use of natural resources while giving importance to environmental quality, and meets current needs without endangering the needs of future generations. In this direction, THBB, appointed as the Regional System Operator of the Concrete Sustainability Council in 2017, and KGS, which qualified as the Certification Body of the Concrete Sustainability Council, continue their work for companies applying for certification under the "Responsible Sourcing System". In this context, KGS conducted an inspection at the Gebze Ready-Mixed Concrete Facility of Akçansa Çimento San. ve Tic. AŞ, which applied for certification of its ready-mixed concrete facility. Following the inspections conducted, Akçansa Gebze Ready-Mixed Concrete Facility qualified to receive the "Concrete Sustainability Council Responsible Sourcing Certificate". Following this certification, Akçansa applied for certification of its Büyükçekmece Cement Plant. Following inspections conducted by KGS, Akçansa Büyükçekmece Cement Plant also qualified to receive the "Concrete Sustainability Council Responsible Sourcing Certificate". The certificates earned by Akçansa Çimento San. ve Tic. AŞ were presented to Akçansa General Manager Umut Zenar during a ceremony held in Istanbul on 30 November 2018.

Işık: "As the Turkish ready-mixed concrete sector, we have achieved one of the world's firsts in sustainability"

Yavuz Işık, President of Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (THBB), which is the Regional System Operator of the Concrete Sustainability Council in Turkey, and European Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (ERMCO), stated in his remarks at the ceremony: "We have focused on sustainability in Turkey in parallel with the world. In this direction, we introduced the 'Responsible Sourcing System' to the Turkish ready-mixed concrete and cement sectors. This System addresses environmental balance and economic growth together, aims to ensure efficient use of natural resources while meeting the needs of future generations. As the Turkish ready-mixed concrete sector, we have achieved one of the world's firsts in sustainability. On this occasion, I congratulate our member Akçansa, represented by General Manager Umut Zenar, for qualifying to receive the country's first 'Responsible Sourcing Certificates'. On this occasion, I invite our ready-mixed concrete and cement sectors to participate in this system." he said.

Zenar: "We are proud to set firsts in our sector"

Akçansa General Manager Umut Zenar stated in his remarks at the ceremony: "With our Büyükçekmece Plant and Gebze Ready-Mixed Concrete Facility, we have proven our compliance with international standards in responsible sourcing and crowned our achievement with the certificates we received. These certifications, which are firsts for Turkey, are a source of pride for our sector and our country." he said.

About Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC)

International organizations operating in the concrete and cement sector, emphasizing the importance of sustainable concrete, the most widely used building material in the world, for our future, came together in 2013 to develop a responsible sourcing certification system. As a result, the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) was established in 2016. The Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) project was initiated by the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and many companies, associations and institutes became founding members. The Concrete Sustainability Council, which informs concrete producers through organizations it appoints as "Regional System Operators" under the headings "Governance", "Environment", "Economic" and "Social", has only one regional system operator in each region. In this context, Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, which applied to the Concrete Sustainability Council in 2017, once again proved its competence in the field of concrete and concrete components and was appointed as the "Regional System Operator" of this Council. Producers informed by concrete sustainability council regional system operators are inspected under the "Responsible Sourcing Certification System", a product certification system recognized worldwide for the concrete sector and concrete components (cement and aggregates). Concrete production facilities are certified following conducted inspections. The "Responsible Sourcing System" aims to make sustainability initiatives more visible; increase awareness regarding the concrete sector and concrete; ensure that concrete is considered in green building rating systems and public environmental policies; and ensure transparency in the concrete sector. In this context, fulfilling all criteria, KGS was appointed as the "Certification Body" of the Concrete Sustainability Council in 2017. KGS independently inspects concrete producers according to the rules established by the Concrete Sustainability Council and certifies successful production facilities.

About Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association

Turkey Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (THBB), since 1988, is a professional organization that has been working to ensure concrete is produced in accordance with standards for the construction of safe and durable structures, to ensure concrete applications in accordance with standards, and particularly to use high-strength classes and durable concrete in regions with high earthquake risk. A full member of the European Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (ERMCO) since 1991, companies joining THBB must ensure that all their ready-mixed concrete facilities produce in accordance with standards, are subject to continuous unannounced inspections by THBB Quality Assurance System (KGS) and obtain KGS Compliance Certificate, have appropriate laboratories, and fully meet technical, environmental, occupational health and safety, legal and ethical criteria.