CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CEMEX) has reduced specific net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in its cement operations by 15.8% in 2008 from company's 1990 baseline and remains on track to meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions per ton of cement by 25% by 2015. The company's strategy for reducing CO2 emissions has four main elements: reducing overall energy use, increasing the use of alternative raw materials, increasing the use of alternative fuels like biomass, and investing in renewable energy.
CEMEX continues to make substantial progress toward its goals as a sustainable building materials company with the achievement of three of its sustainability targets ahead of schedule, as well as with significant reductions in its carbon emissions.
CEMEX has taken several steps in order to reduce its environmental footprint, and the achievements listed below highlight the progress the company has made in its efforts to increase its competitiveness while reducing the impacts of its operations.
Sustainability Targets Met by the company Ahead of Schedule:
Achieved the 2010 lost-time injuries milestone set in 2006 two years early, as a result a new milestone was set for 2010 on the path to zero accidents;
Surpassed the 2015 alternative materials rate goal; work continues to meet the 2020 target;
Met the 2015 target for reducing Sulfur Oxide (SOx) air emissions, and made substantial progress on reducing both dust and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions.
Environmental and Carbon Reduction Achievements:
In 2008, alternative fuels accounted for 10.3% of CEMEX’s total fuel use, an increment of 35% in relation to 2007, demonstrating good progress toward the company’s target of 15% by 2015;
CEMEX registered two biomass projects with the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), at the Caracolito cement plant in Colombia and Colorado cement plant in Costa Rica. The projects are expected to reduce direct CO2 emissions by over 120,000 tons per year;
CEMEX continuously seeks new renewable energy sources such as wind power to supplement energy reduction measures and the use of alternative fuels. The first phase of a new, 250 megawatt wind farm in Oaxaca, Mexico, was commissioned in March and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2009. This farm will be the largest wind power generator in Latin American and will supply 25% of CEMEX’s power requirements in Mexico.
CEMEX has a long term record of commitment when it comes to environmental and social issues and we are proud of the meaningful advances we have made in our efforts to achieve our sustainability goals, said Lorenzo Zambrano, CEMEX chairman and chief executive officer. We firmly believe that the integration of sustainability practices into the day-to-day management of our business is critical to our long-term success and allows us to attract and develop our employee base while contributing positively to the communities in which we operate.
CEMEX’s sustainability goals and progress are outlined in the company’s 2008 Sustainable Development Report. Since 1997, a full report is published every two years and an interim one in the intervening years, providing an overview of the company’s strategy and annual performance on areas such as environmental performance, community engagement, and employee health and safety. The latest report is aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, the most widely used and credible framework globally, and it is the company’s first to achieve a GRI-checked A+, the highest possible level, demonstrating CEMEX’s commitment to transparency.
The report includes a number of firsts: a public policy section; an assurance statement on CO2 emissions and safety indicators by PricewaterhouseCoopers; a greater amount of company-wide data; as well as the establishment of a Sustainability Advisory Panel of experts. Other highlights include the biodiversity mapping of all quarry sites globally in collaboration with BirdLife International, as well as expanded coverage of Patrimonio Hoy, a micro credit and advice scheme developed and managed by CEMEX that has helped over 224,000 low income families in Latin America construct additional rooms to their homes.
CEMEX is a Mexico-based building materials company.