Contribute to more durable cities

Sustainable cities are not only cities with parks and gardens and which protect the environment. They are also durable cities that are can resist both the passage of time and stand up to natural disasters.

That's why we offer solutions to construct buildings and infrastructures which last and protect their inhabitants. Concrete is our best asset: strong, natural and maintenance-free, it endures through the years.

And in the event of earthquakes, cyclones or seawater corrosion, we can further increase its strength and resistance with our special enhanced performance products.

We are also developing innovative building solutions and systems that help conserve water and energy resources and reduce carbon emissions:

• We have improved the natural thermal qualities of concrete with the ultra-high performance concrete-based thermal breaker (Ductal®) and the Thermedia® range, which provides six times more insulation than a traditional concrete.
• We also offer Hydromedia™ pervious concrete, which absorbs stormwater and helps natural runoff soak into the ground. It reduces the risk of flooding for pedestrians and drivers.

And soon motorists will be able to drive through tunnels without worrying about concentrations of nitrogen dioxide emissions thanks to our promising prototype for anti-pollution concrete!

In a rapidly developing country, the population of Vietnam is in need of housing, transportation and energy supplies. But how do you build all the necessary homes and infrastructures on the loose ground of river deltas and along coastlines? We have a special cement that solves the problem!

Each year, Vietnam gains a million inhabitants. There are many people who want housing, transport and energy. In parallel, the country's authorities want to invest in housing and infrastructure that will support the development of the country, which has seen annual growth of 5% for the past 20 years.

The problem is that, as a strip of land along the South China Sea, Vietnam is cut through with numerous rivers and deltas. As a result, the ground is often loose and unstable, making constructions fragile. This has given rise to many difficulties.

But taking an antiseismic technique invented in Japan as a starting-point, our subsidiary in Vietnam has found a solution: Soilcrete, a cement incorporating 60% slag (steel mill waste with the properties of a hydraulic binder), is injected directly into the soil to ensure stability. Capable of reducing cracking in massive structures, it is now being used in a series of major infrastructure projects and in housing developments.

Tomorrow, it could even be used in the manufacture of special concrete with resistance to seawater and low temperatures. And why not in the residential sector?

An ideal solution that will help meet the needs of the population of a fast-growing country!

In a rapidly developing country, the population of Vietnam is in need of housing, transportation and energy supplies. But how do you build all the necessary homes and infrastructures on the loose ground of river deltas and along coastlines? We have a special cement that solves the problem!

Since July 2012, soccer fans in the French city of Le Havre have been following their team at a brand new ground, known as the Stade Océane. It's unique in France - the first stadium in the country that produces more energy than it consumes. And what's more, thanks to Lafarge, its CO₂ emissions are lower than those of a traditional stadium.

On July 12, 2012, a crowd of around 25,000 spectators watched a soccer match between Le Havre and Lille in the brand new Stade Océane. But the supporters were probably unaware that they were taking part in a French premiere.

The stadium, built at the entrance to Le Havre by a consortium consisting of Vinci Construction France, SCAU architects, KSS architects and IOSIS, is the first in the country that produces more energy than it consumes!

We played our part by supplying a cement with very low carbon content (CEM V-type cement, a cement half composed of fly ash, produced by thermal power plants). As a result, the carbon emission of the concrete was 22% lower than that of standard concrete.

But the Stade Océane's environmental performance doesn't end there! To reduce its environmental impact still further, it also includes:

• 1,500 m² of photovoltaic panels,
• a system to recover rainwater for watering and for the toilets,
• optimized thermal insulation thanks to closed spaces,
• regulation of temperature and lighting based on occupancy.

And no sacrifice has been made as far as esthetics are concerned.

Le Havre are currently playing in France's 2nd division, but the club is stopping at nothing to fight back to the top-flight of French soccer!

Since July 2012, soccer fans in the French city of Le Havre have been following their team at a brand new ground, known as the Stade Océane. It's unique in France - the first stadium in the country that produces more energy than it consumes. And what's more, thanks to Lafarge, its CO₂ emissions are lower than those of a traditional stadium.