U.S. Stone Industries Earns Natural Stone Sustainability Standard Certification
Natural Stone Institute
Oberlin, OH, September 28, 2022—U.S. Stone Industries in Herington, KS has earned certification to the Natural Stone Sustainability Standard (ANSI/NSI 373). The company has achieved Silver status for their fabrication facility, which processes limestone from raw blocks of stone into usable building materials.
Ben Retter, President of U.S. Stone Industries commented: “Our experience throughout the certification process validated our core belief that sustainable initiatives are exceedingly beneficial to our environment, our industry, our customers, and our operations. We look forward to expanding the certification to multiple sites within our business.”
The Natural Stone Sustainability Standard was first published in 2014 by the Natural Stone Council. Ownership of the standard transferred to the Natural Stone Institute in early 2021, marking a significant opportunity to raise awareness about the standard within the design community and helping to position natural stone as a solution for green building goals.
Quarriers and natural stone fabricators can look to this multi-attribute industry standard to identify ways to improve sustainability efforts in their operations. Through NSF’s third-party verification, companies can certify their compliance to the standard’s metrics, which include human health and safety, corporate governance, and environmental responsibility. By defining best practices for land reclamation, adaptive reuse, and management of excess materials and waste, the standard ensures that natural stone companies are being good stewards of the land.
To learn more about the Natural Stone Sustainability Standard and source certified natural stone, visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/sustainability.
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About the Natural Stone Institute
The Natural Stone Institute is a trade association representing every aspect of the natural stone industry. The current membership exceeds 2,000 members in over 50 nations. The association offers a wide array of technical and training resources, professional development opportunities, regulatory advocacy, and networking events. Two prominent publications—the Dimension Stone Design Manual and Building Stone Magazine—raise awareness within the natural stone industry and in the design community for best practices and uses of natural stone. Learn more at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org.
About NSF International
NSF International is an independent, global organization that facilitates the development of standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF International is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With operations in 180 countries, NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Food Safety, Water Quality, and Indoor Environment.
NSF’s National Center for Sustainability Standards facilitates the development of standards, product category rules (PCRs) and protocols in a consensus-based stakeholder process. Input from manufacturers, suppliers, regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, procurement professionals, product specifiers, customers and academia achieves acceptance and support for these market-changing standards.
About the Author
The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is the national trade association representing mason contractors. The MCAA is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.
