Bridgewater Ready Mix launches low-carbon concrete products at grand opening of new modernized plant (September 2023)

Bridgewater, NS – Today, elected officials, customers, suppliers, and the local business community joined Bridgewater Ready Mix to celebrate the grand opening of their new multi-million-dollar ready-mix concrete plant. Work on the new facility began in the fall of 2022, after Bridgewater Ready Mix relocated to allow Michelin to expand its operations in the Bridgewater Industrial Park.

“Sustainability and quality are core to our work at Bridgewater Ready Mix and I am excited about our improved capabilities which will allow us to better service our residential and commercial customers from our new modernized plant,” said Joel Westin, President and Owner of Bridgewater Ready Mix. “I would also like to thank the entire Bridgewater Ready Mix team for their patience and hard work throughout the construction and look forward to working closely with industry partners and governments on initiatives to continue driving the green economy.”

Bridgewater Ready Mix has committed to Canada’s cement and concrete industry action plan to achieve net-zero concrete by 2050 and is focused on increasing efficiency and sustainability throughout its operations, without compromising the durable, resilient, versatile, and cost-effective nature of its concrete products.

“Innovative companies like Bridgewater Ready Mix are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making our homes and buildings more energy efficient and resilient,” said Rick Perkins, Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s. “I would like to congratulate Joel Westin and his team on the grand opening of their new plant and their commitment to meeting the growing demand for less carbon intense building materials.”

“Our government is taking bold action to tackle climate change through our plan for clean growth. And an important part of this plan is recognizing that what’s good for the environment is good for business,” said Hon. Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Economic Development. “Now is the time to seize the economic opportunity before us. That’s why I’m very pleased to see companies like Bridgewater Ready Mix take action to reduce their carbon footprint, while setting themselves up for long-term success.”

Bridgewater Ready Mix is actively taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint in line with the federal and provincial governments’ climate goals by:

• Transitioning from General Use Cement (GU) to General Use Limestone Cement (GUL), eliminating 1,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030 (approximately 12% of inputs).

• Updating mix designs in collaboration with suppliers and engineering expertise to reduce carbon and increase efficiency without compromising performance.

• Switching to clean energy by becoming a Renewable to Retail customer of the Mersey River Wind Project, near Milton, NS.

• Purchasing an electric work truck and actively exploring zero-emission mixer trucks, pump trucks and dump trucks.

“As a local producer, we recognize that improving how concrete is made and used will have a profound impact on climate change mitigation and adaptation,” said Joel Westin. “That is why I am pleased to announce that Bridgewater Ready Mix is launching a product line of high-quality, low-carbon concrete. EcoSmart 20 Concrete will soon be available to customers looking to build more sustainably, delivering a 20 percent CO2 reduction compared to traditional concrete*, without compromising performance and quality.”

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About: Located on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, Bridgewater Ready Mix has been providing quality concrete solutions for more than 35 years and is a member of the Atlantic Concrete Association.

To learn more, visit: www.bridgewaterreadymix.ca

*Comparison is made versus the baseline mix for relevant 28-day specified compressive strength as published in the Atlantic Concrete Member Industry-Wide EPD for ready-mixed concrete. For further information, please see the 2022 report available on the Atlantic Concrete Association’s website.

For more information, please contact: Kelsie Chiasson kelsie.chiasson@crestviewstrategy.com (902) 818-4367.