Windmill Developments, The Minto Group and ZZEN Group of Companies Team Up for a More Responsible Aggregate Sector

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 27, 2015) - Today, Windmill Developments, The Minto Group and ZZEN Group of Companies sent notice to the Cornerstone Standards Council (CSC) that they will preferentially purchase certified aggregate materials if other factors like price, quality and availability are equal. This announcement is an important step towards a building industry that recognizes aggregate sites that voluntarily operate under more stringent requirements than law.

"I am pleased to say that when offered the choice of a product made with CSC certified material we will choose that product over other similar products,” said Rodney Wilts, Partner at Windmill Developments. “With the Cornerstone certification leaders in the aggregate industry are stepping up and challenging themselves to operate in a more responsible way. Windmill Developments applauds this type of initiative and encourages our partners in sustainable development to choose certified aggregates whenever possible.”

For Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence, the announcement indicates a shift in the relationship between responsible aggregate operators, the building industry and environmental organizations. “For too long construction projects were built using aggregate materials that may have come from sites that negatively impact communities and the environment. With CSC certification in place builders are finally able to choose more responsible aggregate products.”

Caroline Schultz, Executive Director at Ontario Nature, underscores the importance of CSC’s collaborative approach. “Sites that achieve CSC certification will be those that make a commitment to engage with local community members and conservation organizations. These sites must really meet standards that are above and beyond regulatory requirements and address the impacts their site might have on our natural heritage systems.”

"With encouragement from groups like Ontario Nature and Environmental Defence, companies like Windmill Developments, The Minto Group and ZZEN Group of Companies are leading positive change. For the first time aggregate sites that engage in more responsible practices will be recognized and rewarded for this behaviour,” said Xavier Guesnu, Vice President at Lafarge North America. “Developing the requirements for CSC’s certification has been a long and challenging process and it is rewarding to now be at the point where leaders in the building industry recognize this hard work and the operators who are committed to meeting the Standard.”

Cornerstone Standards Council’s (CSC) Responsible Aggregate Standard is the world's only voluntary certification system for environmentally and socially responsible aggregate practices. To obtain CSC certification, an aggregate site must undergo in-depth assessments to prove it continually meets CSC’s high standards.

About Cornerstone Standards Council

Cornerstone Standards Council (CSC) is a not-for-profit organization that creates, administers and promotes widespread support for voluntary certification of responsibly sourced aggregate materials. Its current focus is to engage industry and community stakeholders in the on-the-ground application of its Responsible Aggregate Standard in order to learn about the Standard’s strengths and weaknesses and determine how it can be improved.