Sustainability
Economy, Environment, Society
As a natural resource company, we must measure our performance by more than the traditional bottom line. At Drake, we judge success by the triple bottom line of economic, environmental, and social performance.
This philosophy acknowledges that profit is a valid pursuit that, in fact, motivates people to create value with the most efficient use of finite resources. Unprofitable companies cannot pay taxes or wages. They are also unable to support local businesses or communities. A business that cannot succeed financially has no other business.
At the same time, companies do have responsibilities beyond pure profit. Every company impacts the environment, and every company impacts the lives of people in and around it. At Drake, we believe that an organization embracing the triple bottom line can, and should, be rewarded with the best economic bottom line.
Yes, we dig materials out of the ground, we use energy to process them, and we distribute the finished products over rail and roads. These activities have an impact, as does every human activity. At Drake, we believe firmly that our impacts, weighed fairly against the benefits of what we produce, are distinctly positive. This is by design: in the makeup of our plant and in the way our products are among the most durable, flexible, and widely-used building materials in the world.
We acknowledge our impact on the world around us, and we recognize that our ability to operate successfully is inherently connected to our performance as responsible corporate citizens.
Drake Cement, Class N Pozzolan, and Environmental Stewardship
Our innovative effort to mine natural pozzolanic ash at Frenchy Pit is a sign of our continuing commitment to environmental responsibility. The global cement industry is currently responsible for almost 8% of annual carbon dioxide emissions. Developing building materials with less environmental impact is a necessity as we seek a greener economy. Our Class N pozzolan product can replace up to 40% of the Portland cement requirement in a concrete mix, drastically reducing its carbon footprint. We estimate this effort will keep more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year.
