NRMCA to Launch Responsible Sourcing Certification Program to Help Meet New LEED v4 Requirements

LEED v4, scheduled for launch in October 2016, will have a new credit titled Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials. Its intent is to reward project teams for selecting products verified to have been extracted or sourced in an environmentally, economically and socially responsible manner. The credit not only addresses behavior of a product manufacturer, but also addresses the environmental, economic and social practices of its supply chain all the way back to raw material extraction. The credit is worth two points, which is significant.

To address these new criteria in LEED v4, NRMCA is collaborating with the Concrete Sustainability Council to develop a responsible sourcing certification program that is aligned with LEED v4 and the concrete industry’s needs. Additionally, NRMCA members have been participating in pilot tests of the program to determine its effectiveness. The intent of the program is to enhance supply chain transparency and elevate environmental, social and governance practices so that concrete producers can participate in the new LEED standard. The CSC Responsible Sourcing Certification is expected to launch in October 2016 to coincide with the launch of LEED v4.