{"id":1483,"date":"2023-03-14T12:51:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T16:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coldspringusa.local\/about-us\/partner-with-us\/sustainability\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:49:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:49:27","slug":"sustainability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coldspringusa.com\/about-us\/partner-with-us\/sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sustainability<\/h1>\n

Environmentally Responsible Stone Production<\/h2>\n

Stone is one of the most durable materials you can use for any application. When specified and detailed correctly, our products can last for hundreds of years, resulting in some of the lowest embodied energy of any material. Developing and maintaining a sustainable operation is a Coldspring core value that not only affects how we do business, but also shapes our corporate culture.<\/p>\n

[Get Started Now]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our Efforts to Minimize Environmental Impact<\/h3>\n
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Stone is a natural resource. However, the way it is quarried, processed, transported and used has a significant bearing on the environmental impact of any particular use. Our foundry and other non-stone operations also benefit from the sustainable practices we use to maximize the utilization of our resources while minimizing energy use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Building on a long-standing commitment to establishing and promoting industry-wide best practices that treat the source of our products (the earth) with respect, Coldspring is dedicated to developing and maintaining resource management and processing practices that minimize our impact on the environment.<\/p>\n

Proudly Quarried in the U.S.A.<\/h3>\n
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With quarries, plant facilities and sales offices located across the country to stay responsive to our customers and help them buy regionally, this is one company that is truly made in America. We work hard every day to promote and expand sustainable business practices.<\/p>\n

[Find a Quarry]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our Declare\u2122 Label<\/h3>\n

We have disclosed all components of our dimensional stone (granite and limestone) on the Declare\u2122 product database, and these products have been designated Red List Free.<\/p>\n

The Materials Red List is a cornerstone of the Living Building Challenge\u2122, the built environment\u2019s most rigorous performance standard. The Red List identifies the \u201cworst in class\u201d materials, chemicals and elements known to pose serious risks to human health and the greater ecosystem. Any project seeking certification under the Living Building Challenge must be free of Red List chemicals and materials. Declare supports the Living Building Challenge by providing a transparent materials database that project teams can select from to meet this requirement.<\/p>\n

As part of the declaration, the team at Coldspring has added the Declare label to its product offering to assist project teams in determining how best to source local products that support regional economies.<\/p>\n

Any product is eligible for inclusion, regardless of its makeup, and participation is voluntary. A product listing does not constitute an endorsement by the International Living Future Institute. Instead, the information provided is reflective of the integrity of the manufacturer; data on each Declare Label has been literally signed off by the head of the company.<\/p>\n

[View Coldspring’s Declare\u2122 Labels]<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Timeline: Our Sustainability Journey<\/h3>\n

2006<\/h4>\n

The Green Building movement created awareness of the need for better materials for high-performing buildings. In response, the stone industry created a sustainability committee to tell the true story of natural stone\u2019s environmental performance. In 2006, we were among the first natural stone companies to begin working on the industry\u2019s first third-party verified sustainability standard.<\/p>\n

2006<\/h4>\n

At the same time, we examined our own quarry and fabrication operations<\/a> to better understand what improvements we could make. We recognized the great opportunity we had to consolidate multiple locations into one corporate headquarters.<\/p>\n

2008<\/h4>\n

In our consolidation, we designed our new corporate office headquarters, which achieved USGBC LEED Gold\u00ae certification in 2008.<\/p>\n

2010<\/h4>\n

Continuing our sustainability journey, we then hired two nationally recognized leaders in sustainability to perform a sustainability audit of Coldspring\u2019s quarry, fabrication and office operations throughout North America. Part of this process was the formation of an internal sustainability committee to establish a plan with goals to measure and improve various elements of our sustainable footprint.<\/p>\n

2014<\/h4>\n

Meanwhile, the stone industry continued to develop the third-party verified standard, which is now known as ANSI\/NSC 373 Sustainable Production of Natural Dimension Stone<\/a>. The standard measures the extent to which natural stone is extracted and produced sustainably. It establishes a set of well-defined environmental, ecological, social responsibility and human health requirements for stone quarries and processors.<\/p>\n

2014<\/h4>\n

Through Coldspring\u2019s leadership and involvement, the standard is now recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council\u2019s LEED v4<\/a> building certification program and the International Living Future Institute’s most recent version of the\u00a0Living Building Challenge<\/a>. This helps design teams ensure the stone they specify supports their project\u2019s sustainability goals.<\/p>\n

2016<\/h4>\n

Coldspring was one of the first companies to achieve ANSI\/NSC 373 certification with our primary manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Cold Spring, MN, and several quarries in the Midwest.<\/p>\n

2018<\/h4>\n

Coldspring\u2019s commitment to sustainability continues to steer efforts toward maintaining and achieving ANSI\/NSC 373 certification at additional operations. Our Milbank quarry operations received Gold-level certification in 2018.<\/p>\n

2020<\/h4>\n

Two years after achieving Gold Quarrier status, our Milbank quarry exceeds and receives Platinum Quarrier NSC 373 certification.<\/p>\n

Sustainable Production of Natural Dimension Stone<\/h3>\n

The ANSI\/NSC 373 Sustainable Production of Natural Dimension Stone Certification is a third-party verification standard ensuring architects and owners that stone for their buildings is produced in an economic, environmental and socially responsible manner.<\/p>\n

Carbon & Energy<\/h4>\n

Coldspring is focused on improving energy efficiency, thereby reducing carbon impacts as a part of our effort to implement lean manufacturing and control costs while maintaining the highest safety, environmental and corporate financial standards. We have a corporate goal to reduce our energy consumption by 2% each year<\/a> with various strategies in place to obtain this goal, including how we replace and maintain our equipment, an upgrade to LED light bulbs, an idling policy within our quarry operations, and the addition of solar panels in fall 2018. It’s all to improve our process and optimize efficiencies in the usage of energy.<\/p>\n

Site Impacts<\/h4>\n

We strive to utilize everything we extract from the earth that directly impacts the quantity of land affected by extraction and processing. We seek to minimize our impacts on habitat, and to ensure that, when we are finished using a particular site, it can be returned effectively for use as a high-value habitat.<\/p>\n

Solid Waste<\/h4>\n

Although our products, properly installed, will last for generations, we must be ever mindful of the solid waste that is generated throughout the value stream (plastic banding, foam sheets, tires, oil, office waste, etc.). Coldspring aims to decrease the amount of waste that goes to landfill at all stages of our products’ value chain under our control.<\/a><\/p>\n

Water<\/h4>\n

Coldspring strives to develop strategies to be efficient with water usage. We must do our part to minimize our fresh water consumption and to ensure the quality of water we release back to the environment. We currently recycle more than 90% of the water used in operations.<\/p>\n

Corporate Social Responsibility<\/h4>\n

A good corporate citizen is one that makes informed and responsible choices in all areas of its business. We must treat our employees well, care for our communities, be good stewards of the environment and embody a culture of continuous improvement. We value transparency, honesty, hard work and empathy for the impact that any product has on people and the environment.<\/p>\n

Chemicals<\/h4>\n

Making sure that chemicals are used as sparingly as possible \u2013 and responsibly, where required \u2013 is a key component of corporate sustainability and environmental leadership. Following a third-party audit of our chemical use, we are now actively looking for ways to eliminate \u201cred-list\u201d chemicals in our operation.<\/p>\n

* Post-closure reclamation plans of certified quarries can be made available upon request.<\/em><\/p>\n

[Download Our Scorecard]<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Coldspring\u2019s LEED Gold\u00ae Certified Headquarters<\/h3>\n

The 22,500-square-foot facility, designed and constructed following the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, increases productivity and makes for a more efficient and integrated operations. The corporate headquarters houses approximately 150 people and is one of seven buildings on the 435-acre site.<\/p>\n

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Our Sustainability E-book<\/h3>\n

While natural stone is an inherently sustainable material, the way it is extracted and processed has a direct impact on its overall quality of sustainability. Because practices can vary widely depending on the stone supplier, it\u2019s important to be specific and clear when writing specifications with sustainable stone<\/strong> in mind. Establishing clear and concise project goals with the owner upfront and writing precise specifications can help ensure your goals are met. Learn more in our free E-book, Specifying Sustainable Stone: A Guide to Helping Owners Get What They Want<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[Download Here]<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Stone Utilization<\/h3>\n

We recognize, as many do, that natural stone<\/a> is an environmentally preferable material. Especially when compared to many other products such as concrete or composites, stone is highly durable, requires minimal processing and is locally available in many markets. Yet we understand that we have a responsibility to be the best within our industry \u2013 the greenest stone manufacturer in the world.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the sustainability efforts we undertake at Coldspring by reaching out to us today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[Get in Touch]<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Sustainability journey explains the Company’s history with sustainability.<\/p>\n

Goal is to help understand how stone is sustainable, and how Coldspring is sustainable.<\/p>\n

Most recent blogs will help with this.<\/p>\n

Highlight NSI 373, Declare, EPD & HPDs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sustainability Environmentally Responsible Stone Production Stone is one of the most durable materials you can use for any application. When specified and detailed correctly, our products can last for hundreds of years, resulting in some of the lowest embodied energy of any material. Developing and maintaining a sustainable operation is a Coldspring core value that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":1482,"menu_order":80,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1483","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"page_components":{"0":{"acf_fc_layout":"interior_hero","title":"","heading":"PROUDLY QUARRIED IN THE U.S.A.","content":"Stone is one of the most durable materials you can use for any application. When specified and detailed correctly, our products can last for hundreds of years, resulting in some of the lowest embodied energy of any material. Developing and maintaining a sustainable operation is a Coldspring core value that not only affects how we do business, but also shapes our corporate culture.","buttons":[{"link":{"title":"Get Started Now","url":"https:\/\/coldspringusa.com\/get-a-quote\/","target":""},"style":"solid"}],"image":8103,"overlay":"rgba(0,0,0,.6)","x_position":"center","y_position":"bottom"},"1":{"acf_fc_layout":"50_50_image_text","orientation":"content-right","heading":"Our Efforts to Minimize Environmental Impact","content":"

\r\n\r\nStone is a natural resource. However, the way it is quarried, processed, transported and used has a significant bearing on the environmental impact of any particular use. Our foundry and other non-stone operations also benefit from the sustainable practices we use to maximize the utilization of our resources while minimizing energy use.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nBuilding on a long-standing commitment to establishing and promoting industry-wide best practices that treat the source of our products (the earth) with respect, Coldspring is dedicated to developing and maintaining resource management and processing practices that minimize our impact on the environment.\r\n\r\n<\/div>","images":[{"image":8220,"location":"","photographer":"","optional_link":""}],"accordion_title":"","accordion_content":""},"2":{"acf_fc_layout":"space","height":75,"background":"rgba(255,255,255,0)","margin_top":"","margin_bottom":"","full_width":false},"3":{"acf_fc_layout":"full_width_text","id":"","width":"narrow","text_align":"left","text_color":"dark","have_crossing_lines":true,"heading_tag":"h4","heading":"Specifying Sustainable Stone: A Guide to Helping Owners Get What They Want","content":"\"\"While natural stone is an inherently sustainable material, the way it is extracted and processed has a direct impact on its overall quality of sustainability. Because practices can vary widely depending on the stone supplier, it\u2019s important to be specific and clear when writing specifications with sustainable stone in mind. Establishing clear and concise project goals with the owner upfront and writing precise specifications can help ensure your goals are met. Learn more in our free eBook, Specifying Sustainable Stone: A Guide to Helping Owners Get What They Want<\/em>.\r\n\r\n[button href=\"https:\/\/coldspringusa.com\/resources\/?_resource_category_checkboxes=brochures-ebooks\"]Download Here[\/button]\r\n\r\n ","buttons":null,"image":"","overlay":"rgba(168,169,158,0.15)","x_position":"center","y_position":"center","padding_top":75,"padding_bottom":75},"4":{"acf_fc_layout":"full_width_text","id":"","width":"narrow","text_align":"center","text_color":"dark","have_crossing_lines":true,"heading_tag":"h4","heading":"","content":"

\u201cUsing stone in landscape architecture, especially a locally quarried one, is always a great opportunity to connect the project to the natural history of the land, sustainability is a very important consideration.\"<\/h4>\r\n

EMANOUIL SPASSOV | ASLA, PLA, SITES AP, LEED AP BD+C | HGA<\/p>","buttons":null,"image":"","overlay":"rgba(255,255,255,0)","x_position":"center","y_position":"center","padding_top":75,"padding_bottom":75},"5":{"acf_fc_layout":"centered_image_layered_text_card","text_color":"light","card_background":"#1C1B19","link":"","heading":"","content":"

\"\"\r\nOur Declare\u2122 Label<\/h5>\r\n

Coldspring has added the Declare label to its product offering to assist project teams in determining how best to source local products that support regional economies.<\/p>\r\n[button href=\"https:\/\/coldspringusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2027-Declare-Labels.pdf\" style=\"btn-block solid\" target=\"_blank\"]View Coldspring's Declare\u2122 Labels[\/button]","top_background":"#fff","image":8226,"bottom_background":"rgba(168,169,158,0.15)","have_background_texture":true},"6":{"acf_fc_layout":"space","height":110,"background":"rgba(255,255,255,0)","margin_top":"","margin_bottom":"","full_width":false},"7":{"acf_fc_layout":"50_50_image_text","orientation":"content-left","heading":"Sustainable Production of Natural Dimension Stone","content":"The ANSI\/NSI 373 Sustainable Production of Natural Dimension Stone Certification is a third-party verification standard ensuring architects and owners that stone for their buildings is produced in an economic, environmental and socially responsible manner.\r\n\r\n[button href=\"https:\/\/coldspringusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2024-NSI-373-Recertification-Audit-Report-Coldspring-121824-FINAL.xlsx\" style=\"solid\" target=\"_blank\"]DOWNLOAD OUR SCORECARD[\/button]","images":[{"image":8245,"location":"","photographer":"","optional_link":""}],"accordion_title":"Certified Quarries & Facilities","accordion_content":"