ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability at Ash Grove: Our Commitment to a Greener Future

At Ash Grove, we recognize the importance of sustainable practices in the cement industry. Our comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship is rooted in industry best practices, innovative technologies, and a deep commitment to reducing emissions. Here's an overview of our key initiatives:

Operational Excellence and Environmental Compliance:

  • We operate our facilities in an environmentally responsible manner, strictly adhering to environmental regulations.

  • Our environmental management system, certified under ISO 14001:2015, reflects our continuous efforts to improve environmental performance.

Innovations in Process Efficiency:

  • Our focus on energy efficiency is demonstrated through the development of alternative sources of raw materials and fuels.

  • We strive for continuous improvements in manufacturing processes to minimize emissions and adverse environmental impacts.

Advancing Process and Product Safety:

  • We are committed to producing safe, sustainable products and maintain emergency preparedness plans for significant hazards in operations.

Environmental Stewardship and Wildlife Conservation:

  • Ash Grove actively engages in open communication about environmental matters with all stakeholders.

  • Our Foreman, Arkansas plant is a certified wildlife habitat, showcasing our commitment to biodiversity.

Innovative Use of Alternative Fuels:

  • We have one of the highest fuel substitution rates in the industry, significantly reducing our reliance on coal.

  • Our unique HOTDISC reactor at the Midlothian plant in Texas exemplifies our innovative approach, burning whole truck tires and preventing tons of waste from reaching landfills.

Pioneering in Carbon Capture and Storage:

  • In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, we are conducting a study to implement an integrated carbon capture and storage system at our Foreman, Arkansas plant.

Building a Low-Carbon Future:

  • Our roadmap to carbon neutrality outlines actions across the value chain, from clinker production to leveraging concrete as a carbon sink.

  • A new low-carbon cement mill is being built at our Durkee, Oregon plant to meet the growing demand for sustainable building materials.

Sapphire Americas Partnership:

  • Through our subsidiary, Sapphire Americas, we manage over 650 million pounds of waste annually, contributing to a zero-waste future.

  • We practice co-processing, recycling waste materials into alternative fuels and materials for cement manufacturing.

  • Recycle and reuse construction and other waste

  • Enable resilient, resource efficient buildings and infrastructure

  • Build more circular supply chains

  • Design-out embodied and operational carbon

  • Use carbon we can’t avoid

  • Support the deployment of infrastructure for the energy transition

  • Develop energy efficiency solutions for buildings and infrastructure

  • Conserve water across the value chain

  • Upgrade water infrastructure and ground water recharging

  • Advance solutions that enhance resilience to flooding

Our Vision for a Sustainable Tomorrow

ROADMAP TO CARBON NEUTRALITY

America’s cement manufacturers have committed to the goal of reaching carbon neutrality throughout the cement-concrete-construction value chain by 2050.

At Ash Grove Cement, sustainability is more than a practice – it's a core value that shapes our business decisions and innovations. We are dedicated to leading the way in sustainable development, ensuring that we not only meet today's needs but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

Climate change is one of the defining global challenges of our time. We have a business ambition to be net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and are working to ensure that our businesses and products are part of the solution.

We are accelerating existing levers to decarbonise our operations and supply chain, in line with our 2030 roadmap and we are partnering to innovate new technologies and solutions. We are also innovating and delivering the low carbon solutions needed for a decarbonised and resilient built environment, including the construction of energy efficient buildings and clean energy infrastructure.

Wildlife Habitats

A member of the Wildlife Habitat Council, Ash Grove’s plant property in Foreman, Arkansas, is certified as a wildlife habitat. Foreman has certification for its Wildlife at Work program, which involves initiatives to enhance aquatic habitat and nesting areas for native birds, promoting native plant and pollinator diversity and hosting environmental education. 

A Comprehensive Approach

With a commitment to industry best practices, emissions reduction and monitoring technology, innovative products and services, Ash Grove continually pursues a sustainable approach to business.

In the last several years, Ash Grove has led the industry in the discovery, development, acquisition, testing and implementation of new equipment and technologies that continuously meet high standards for emissions monitoring and reduction while maintaining our leadership in the use of alternative fuels.

It is a privilege to produce a product essential to our nation’s economic health in a way that protects natural resources, ensures workplace safety and serves the communities in which we operate.