Monument Chemical proudly hosted this year’s SOCMA Sustainability Conference – our third time attending the event and the first time Monument took the lead as host. We offered up The Heritage Group’s (THG) one-of-a-kind innovation facility – The Center – as the perfect backdrop for a two-day deep dive into what’s possible when sustainability and collaboration are not only discussed, but lived.

“The Center is built around sustainability,” said Gloria O’Bannon, HSSE Compliance Coordinator. “There are meeting cabins tucked into the woods, walking trails, LEED Silver-certified design, the zero waste-to-landfill status – even our caterers are chosen for their sustainable practices. Every aspect of The Center reinforced the purpose of our gathering. It was immersive, inspiring, and incredibly productive.”

A One-of-a-Kind Venue, an All-in-One Experience

Day one kicked off with a tour of THG’s on-site research and innovation labs – giving attendees a real-world look at innovation in action. Later, the group explored The Center’s museum space during the cocktail hour, which showcases the diverse portfolio of THG companies. Dinner was hosted right on site, rounding out a seamless day where learning and networking flowed naturally.

“It was one of those events where everything just clicked,” said Gloria O’Bannon, HSSE Compliance Coordinator. “We weren’t just talking about sustainability – we were experiencing it all around us. That made the conversations more real, more actionable.”

And speaking of real talk… With all the changes happening in the U.S. and across the world right now, one question came up more than once: Is sustainability still a priority?

The answer was a resounding YES.

Rick Caines, Executive Consultant, shared: “There’s still skepticism out there – people wondering if sustainability efforts are just a trend or a luxury. But the message at this conference was clear: sustainability is alive and well. That said, it has to be a win-win. If it doesn’t make good business sense, it’s not truly sustainable. We need to continue finding solutions that are smart and impactful.”

Sharing the Journey: What We’ve Learned

Monument team members presented throughout the conference, sharing both the milestones and the challenges from our sustainability journey. Rick and Gloria led a keynote session on the Monument’s path to EcoVadis certification – offering guidance to others on how to make meaningful progress and improve their scores.

“We know how challenging it can be to navigate all the different certifications out there,” said Gloria. “We emphasized the importance of choosing the ones that align with your customers’ values and your own goals – because that’s where you’ll get the most impact.”

Building Win-Wins: Sustainability and Business Excellence

Jordan Lindsey, Production Engineer, led a breakout session that was a clear highlight. She focused on how Monument is embedding sustainability into our operational excellence efforts – finding “win-win” opportunities that reduce environmental impact while driving efficiency and cost savings.

“We’re not just talking about saving gas, electricity, water, or waste for the sake of it,” Jordan said. “We’re identifying high-impact sustainability projects in our pipeline – and then prioritizing them to get the biggest efficiency wins. We’ve seen great success at our Brandenburg, Kentucky site, and we’re rolling out the same project pipeline process in Houston later this year.”

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The conference gave all attendees an honest look at what’s ahead. From regulatory shifts to evolving customer expectations, the sustainability landscape is anything but static. But the Monument team – and our colleagues from the SOCMA conference – remain clear-eyed and optimistic.

“As an industry, we need to help each other stay focused and nimble,” said Rick. “The real wins come when we collaborate – when we see sustainability not just as an obligation, but as a way to drive innovation, resilience, stronger partnerships, and business growth.”

“The right partnerships,” added Gloria, “can help you get big ideas off the ground faster. That’s when you really start to see the difference – not just for your bottom line, but for the industries we serve and the world we share.”