Displaying items by tag: Sustainability

Sri Lanka: Holcim Lanka has launched its fourth 'Holcim Village' in Akmeemana, Galle, in the south of the island nation. Holcim said that by laying the foundation for this new Holcim Village, it demonstrates its commitment towards its 'triple bottom line' of economic return, social responsibility and environmental protection. The village at Akmeemana follows three previous projects carried out in Medirigiriya, Eluwankulama and Puttalam.

The Holcim Village in Galle specifically addresses the needs of the community surrounding Ruhunu cement works. The US$900,000 project will house 13 homeless families in fully fledged housing units with electricity, water and access roads, upon completion.

UK: Emissions from the UK cement industry have risen slightly according to the Sustainable Development Report 2012 from the Minerals Products Association (MPA) – Cement.

The MPA reported small rises in nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust emissions compared to 2011 due to variety of factors. However, the MPA stressed that all emissions remained below the targets for the sector and limits required by the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Carbon dioxide emissions from cement kilns also rose compared to 2011 due to an increased production of CEM I type cement. Improvements were reported in 2012 year-on-year for lost time injuries and use of alternative fuels.

"Our sustainable development challenges are many and varied, but our strength lies in recognising what these are, setting them out clearly for external stakeholders to see, implementing the measures necessary to meet these challenges and reporting on progress. This first full sustainable development report for the UK cement industry is an important step along a journey that is leading us to a more sustainable future," Dr Pal Chana, Executive Director of the MPA, said. The report has changed from previous editions by commenting on the broader sustainable development aspirations of the UK cement industry in addition to reporting on the manufacturing process.

Germany: HeidelbergCement has reduced its specific net carbon dioxide emissions by 21% to 607.5 kg/t of cement since 1990 according to its 2011/2012 Sustainability Report. Its alternative fuels rate increased to 21.7% in 2012. This is the fifth sustainability report that the German-based cement producer has published.

"Sustainable business practices are a fundamental condition as well as an integral component of our business activities and therefore central to the activities and decisions of our management teams on the ground," said Dr Bernd Scheifele, CEO of HeidelbergCement.

Despite increasing its alternative fuels mix, HeidelbergCement reported changes in its traditional fossil fuels mix for clinker production. Hard coal usage fell but petroleum coke and natural has saw rises in usage. NO_x, SO₂ and dust emissions all fell from 2011 to 2012.

Ireland: Irish building materials supplier CRH has shown continued improvements in most of its cement sustainability initiative key performance indicators in its 2012 sustainability report.

Of note, CRH improved its net CO₂ emissions per tonne of cementitious product by 5% to 637kg/t. Fuel substitution rose to 20.8% from 17.3%. The Lost Time Incident (LTI) rate per million man-hours for direct employees fell from 2.54 to 1.49. Particulates per specific g/t of clinker fell to 108 from 328.

However, CRH's emission for SO_x per specific g/t of clinker rose to 304 from 204. CRH blamed this rise on an increased use of alternative fuels in some plants.

In his forward to the report chief executive office Myles Lee commented that CRH's Materials Division had substantially increased alternative fuel usage in its European cement operations in 2012 that softened cost inflation in energy-related inputs.