A blueprint for a climate friendly cement industry - December 2007
How to Turn Around the Trend of Cement Related Emissions in the Developing World.
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Since the beginning of our partnership in 2000, Lafarge and WWF learnt to
work together in order to make the most of our complementary profiles. WWF
works alongside Lafarge as "critical friend" who challenges us to do
better. For Lafarge, this constructive confrontation is the best way to
achieve the targets we have set in our Sustainability Ambitions 2012. This
new and more demanding phase of the partnership will confirm us as a global
leader.
Olivier Luneau, Senior Vice-President Public Affairs and Environment, Lafarge Group
Summary of the partnership
In 2000, Lafarge, the world leader in construction materials, was the first industrial group to become a WWF Conservation Partner. The partnership was first renewed in 2005 and more recently on April 8, 2009 for another four years.
Back in 2000, the discussions between Lafarge and WWF International were largely focusing on reforestation programs but quickly the range of activities broadened and included activities in relation to the following :
Following encouraging progress as of 2008, WWF and Lafarge have renewed their partnership for a further four years period from 2009 to 2012. In addition to the topics above, this new phase will also look at Lafarge’s water footprint as water consumption is becoming a pressing issue in many countries where Lafarge operates.
As in the previous phase, both parties have also decided to foster local partnerships by dedicating specific funding to local projects of common interest and by setting up an incentive mechanism to encourage their local organizations to team up on projects related to the key programmes above. In the past, these local initiatives had found resonance in local commitments and actions, notably with fauna and flora initiatives in Canada, surveillance of the Panda habitat in China, biodiversity awareness campaigns in Romania and Austria, development of biofuel projects in Kenya.
Climate change objectives & results*
In November 2001, Lafarge made two important commitments in relation to its CO2 emissions:
Here below are some of the way by which a company such as Lafarge can reduce its CO2 emissions:
- reducing Lafarge’s absolute and relative CO2 emissions (see below “Climate change objectives & results”)
- addressing the issue of persistent pollutants, such as dioxins and mercury, that can be emitted during the production process
- developing a strategy for the ecological rehabilitation of quarries
- promoting sustainable construction products and systems all along the building construction chain
Following encouraging progress as of 2008, WWF and Lafarge have renewed their partnership for a further four years period from 2009 to 2012. In addition to the topics above, this new phase will also look at Lafarge’s water footprint as water consumption is becoming a pressing issue in many countries where Lafarge operates.
As in the previous phase, both parties have also decided to foster local partnerships by dedicating specific funding to local projects of common interest and by setting up an incentive mechanism to encourage their local organizations to team up on projects related to the key programmes above. In the past, these local initiatives had found resonance in local commitments and actions, notably with fauna and flora initiatives in Canada, surveillance of the Panda habitat in China, biodiversity awareness campaigns in Romania and Austria, development of biofuel projects in Kenya.
Climate change objectives & results*
In November 2001, Lafarge made two important commitments in relation to its CO2 emissions:
- by 2010, to reduce by 10% its CO2 emissions in industrialized countries compared to 1990 with a production growth of 10%. In 2008, Lafarge had reached -12.5% with a growth of about 2% on the same period.
- by 2010, to reduce by 20% its CO2 emissions per ton of cement produced worldwide compared to 1990. In 2008, Lafarge had reached -18.4%.
Here below are some of the way by which a company such as Lafarge can reduce its CO2 emissions:
- Improve the thermal efficiency of kilns
- Increase the share of biomass
- Improve the electrical efficiency of plants
- Develop Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Use cement more efficiently
- Expand the use of additives and substitutes to cement clinker
