Environmental stewardship of Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (ASPASA) member quarries across South Africa has improved significantly since the inception of the ‘ASPASA About Face’ program in 1994. The About Face program has guided and aided member quarries from mediocre environmental performance to being amongst the best quarry operators in the world.

In 1994, ASPASA launched the ABOUT FACE RSA environmental management program. The program has continually evolved since inception to the latest version, ASPASA About Face 2017 which fully conforms to the latest issue of the international ISO 14 001:2015 Environmental Management System. ASPASA About Face 2017 has been specifically adapted to the requirements of the South African surface mining industry and through this provides a management tool and assessment program to aid ASPASA members in the continual improvement of their individual environmental management systems.

ASPASA About Face 2017 is a compulsory program for all ASPASA Member operations. The program places a strong emphasis on management commitment to environmental stewardship. It actively promotes awareness of legal requirements, environmental management that emphasises stakeholder engagement, optimal resource utilisation, waste minimisation, and the reduction of environmental footprint.

Specific environmental training and awareness building by industry experts supports the program and changes the annual audit from a mere audit to a value-adding, independent assessment of the member’s operation.

The net result of participation in the ASPASA About Face program is a significant improvement in member operations’ environmental stewardship with benefits relating to legal compliance, pollution prevention and, where it cannot be prevented, reduction to within authorised limits, degradation minimisation and general awareness improvement. Participation in the program has increased by an average of 10% per year since 2012.

The ASPASA About Face program is a valuable tool in the industry’s commitment to meaningful self-governance.

Nico Pienaar, the Executive Director of ASPASA, says “by joining ASPASA and participating in the ASPASA About Face program, our operations are able to access information from global experts and peers on the latest developments in environmental management, and to gain access to the Association’s industry specific Environmental Management System, policies, procedures, related resources and more.” 

Aspasa, Nico Pienaar, Tel: (011) 791 3327, Fax: 086 647 8034, Email: nico@Aspasa.co.za, Web: www.Aspasa.co.za