LafargeHolcim releases 2018 sustainability report

LafargeHolcim, a building materials and solutions company, has released its sustainability report detailing the economic, environmental and social performance of the company.

The report also presents the company’s objectives for climate and energy, circular economy, environment and community.

In 2018 LafargeHolcim achieved a one per cent reduction in net carbon dioxide emissions from 2017, which was equal to a 25 per cent reduction compared to its level in 1990.

This was achieved by reducing the clinker-to-cement ratio and consuming less energy per tonne of cement, mostly by using alternative fuels.

The company treated 52 million tonnes of waste in 2018, of which more than 11 tonnes was used by Geocycle, the company’s global waste management business.

Geocycle partners with various industries and redirects their waste into the cement process, which ensures that instead of being disposed via landfill or incineration, waste is sustainably managed.

LafargeHolcim repurposed around 2 million tonnes of plastic waste in its cement plants over the year.

It is planning to launch specific waste management solutions in Mexico, Egypt and Morocco, where it has identified marine plastic littering as a major concern.

The company further recovered 41 million tonnes of waste from other industries such as slag from the steel industry and fly ash from power generation. This recovered waste replaced clinker in the final cement product.

Reducing clinker content in cement allows LafargeHolcim to limit the carbon dioxide intensity of its cement production.