ROOTS OF GREEN CONSTRUCTION

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Aggregates are the foundation of every construction project and require the sourcing of legally compliant suppliers of sand and stone to be at the very heart of planning for green building developments.

While these materials make up the foundations of our buildings, they also form the bases of our roads, railways and infrastructure, as well as making up the largest component of concrete for all other aspects of construction. Rather than turning a blind eye to illegally mined materials, the construction industry should embrace true sustainability and find suppliers who are responsible and comply with legal requirements.

Letisha van den Berg, director of surface mining industry association, ASPASA, says the simplest way of sourcing these materials is to procure building materials from a mine or quarry that is already a member of ASPASA, which means they are fully compliant to undertake operations at their sites. 

“We call upon green building practitioners to look at the bigger picture in terms of environmental, economic and social practices. Concrete suppliers should also prove that they procured their dry mix from a legal mining operation or its supply chain,” she says.

Green building practitioners should have the ability to follow paper trails of all materials brought on to a site. It is important to remember that in most instances illegal operations will not provide proof of purchase and will avoid responsibility and accountability for environmental damage if found out. When manufacturers, builders or concrete suppliers support illegal mining in an attempt to make money the blame should be shifted to those who support illegal work. As a result Aspasa strongly encourages green building practitioners and end users to request proof that they obtained building materials from legal operations.