Displaying items by tag: Mineral Products Association
Bill Brett appointed chairman of Mineral Products Association
04 September 2013UK: Bill Brett has been appointed as the chairman of the Mineral Products Association (MPA) for the next two years to 2015. He will succeed Dyfrig James. Brett, the chairman of Brett Group, has a wide range of commercial interests and industry involvement.
"Members have appreciated Dyfrig's inclusive approach and the efforts he has made to engage with all parts of the MPA, particularly in the regions and of course his beloved Wales," said Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA. "The MPA would like to thank Dyfrig for all his efforts and wish Bill Brett every success for his two year tenure."
MPA publishes Sustainable Development Report
14 December 2011UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA), which covers the cement and lime industries in the UK, has released its 3rd Sustainable Development Report, which shows the continued progress of its members in the realms of health and safety, carbon emissions, biodiversity, nature conservation and resource efficiency. It highlighted that, while growth prospects are uncertain and markets remain 20% to 40% below pre-recession levels, its members continue to be committed to stringent sustainability targets.
Highlights from the report include the planting of 1 million trees in the UK by MPA member since 2005 and a drop in direct carbon dioxide emission from cement production in 2010. The ratio of land prepared for quarrying to that which was restored to nature was 0.8:1. The report also showed the extent of the slump in UK cement demand. The UK consumed just 158kg/capita of cement in 2010 against the European average of 404kg/capita.
Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive MPA, said, "Our third Sustainable Development Report shows where we have gained considerable ground. For example, there is a growing awareness of the contribution that good building design can make to sustainability and how the use of concrete can significantly reduce the whole life energy performance of buildings through thermal mass benefits."
However, the MPA used the report to reiterate its stance on certain government policies. It believes that the government should not impose excessive costs on energy intensive industries, such cement and lime, which could drive the supply of essential and indigenously available resources overseas. "The MPA believes that genuine sustainable development demands that UK industries and supply chains are both resource efficient, where our industry is best in class in Europe, and also financially sustainable."
UK: The head of the UK Mineral Products Association (MPA), Nigel Jackson, has backed a 3 October 2011 announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in which he said that environmental laws and regulations were 'piling costs' on to the energy bills of homeowners and business and that "we're not going to save the planet by putting our country out of business."
Commenting ahead of Osborne's Autumn Statement, which is expected to be on 29 November 2011, Jackson said, "I could not agree more with the sentiment and look forward to seeing how that welcome statement translates into positive action to reduce the complexity and plethora of energy related legislation that exists, as well as the actual amount of additional cost that this industry now faces."
Jackson additionally stressed the importance of keeping strategically important energy-intensive industries, such as cement and lime, in the UK. He warned against over-regulation of such industries, saying that it would not only threaten the UK's security of supply but would also export jobs and carbon for no environmental gain. Jackson said, "When the Chancellor announces the government's proposed package of help with energy costs for those energy-intensive industries at risk of 'carbon leakage' we need to see the cement and lime industries included. Government must act decisively to signal that it wants to retain viable domestic cement and lime industries in the UK." Jackson stressed, "This is the Chancellor's opportunity to put his words into practice and help protect British jobs, British manufacturing and British business. We need this Government to be the most enterprising ever."