A Practical Model to Assess and Improve Sustainability in Stone and Marble Industry in the Palestinian Territories

Abstract

Assessing the sustainability level is now an essential procedure for improving sustainability practices in a certain industry. The stone and marble industry is one of the most important industries in Palestine, its contribution to the overall industrial revenue is 25%, and it employs directly about 25,000 workers. This paper presents a customized model to assess and improve sustainability levels in stone and marble facilities. It uses an assessment tool (performance criteria) in the form of a checklist with impeded weighted scoring scale. The tool covers six main themes: energy, water, waste, transportation, site management and landscape, and human health and safety. Based on the assessment level, the model suggests a specific "To-do list" targeting the areas of improvement with the greatest potential to help the facility to improve to the next better level.

Keywords

• sustainability
• stone and marble industry
• sustainability assessment model
• sustainability indicators