Promoting Concrete's Environmental Advantages

A new coalition, the Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations (ECCO), has been established to coordinate an industry-wide public-relations effort aimed at positioning concrete as an environmentally sound choice. Spearheaded by the Portland Cement Association and the National Ready-Mix Concrete Association, the group will be officially introduced at the March 1995 “World of Concrete” Convention. ECCO will be accepting “founding” members throughout 1995.

ECCO has begun by surveying architects and transportation officials about their attitudes toward concrete’s environmental record. According to a published summary, architects responding to the survey rated concrete slightly above other materials environmentally. Wood and steel rated neutral impacts, just below concrete. Architects perceived aluminum siding, vinyl siding, and asphalt paving as having negative impacts.