SKOKIE, Ill. – The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine acknowledged the Mitsubishi Cement Corporation plant in Lucerne Valley, Calif., as part of the 2013 Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards honoring sustainable manufacturing practices.
The plant was a finalist in the Outreach category honors facilities that strive to enhance community, employee and government relations through innovative communications programs.
Mitsubishi Cement is an active leader in the community, with staff serving on many committees and boards, including the San Bernardino National Forest Association, the Lucerne Valley Educational Foundation, and the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. The plant authors a weekly column in the Lucerne Valley Leader newspaper to improve communication with the community. Features include addressing environmental issues and highlighting the contributions of company employees.
“Minimizing the environment impact of its plants and making their local communities better places are top priorities for cement manufacturers,” said Greg Scott, PCA president and CEO. “Mitsubishi went even further by giving back to a community which has supported it for decades.”
The Energy & Environmental Awards honor individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit with action. These plants go beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes contribute to making their communities better places to live and work. Five categories are recognized: Outreach, Environmental Performance, Land Stewardship, Innovation and Energy Efficiency. Additionally, PCA presents a special honor to a plant demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.
The award program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America. Judges for the 2013 awards Program included representatives from U.S. EPA-ENERGY STAR, Wildlife Habitat Council, U.S. Geological Survey, World Wildlife Fund, and Cement Americas.
About PCA
Based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.