Fighting climate change

Lafarge is aware of challenge which climate change presents for the entire planet. Since 2001, the Group committed itself to ambitious objectives in the framework of a pioneering partnership with WWF. Lafarge has fulfilled and surpassed in advance its 2010 objectives. Specifically:

• - 10% absolute gross emissions* in industrialized countries: they were cut by 36.5% in the Cement business between 1990 and 2010,
• - 20% net emissions* per ton of cement produced worldwide: they fell by 21.7% between 1990 and 2010.

 

(* Gross/net emissions: net emissions equal gross emissions minus emissions related to the burning of waste.)

 

Going beyond plants

The construction sector accounts for 40% of the global energy demand, and for 30% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2011, the Group announced it 2nd generation commitments, set up in the framework of the partnership with WWF International. Lafarge's 3 new targets for 2015 and 2020 are in line with a comprehensive, ambitious and original approach. They go beyond plants CO2 emissions and encapsulate the entire construction chain:

• Reducing CO2 emissions per ton of cement produced by 33% between 1990 and 2020;

• Developing 10 innovative products ranges and contributing to 500 sustainable construction projects by 2015;

• Promoting CO2 performance enhancement policies, which are adapted to Lafarge's industry in international and professional organizations.

 

Relying on industrial ecology and innovation

To meet these objectives, the Group is:

• reducing energy consumption,
• modernizing its plants and constantly improving its industrial processes,
• developing industrial ecology through alternative fuels and industrial waste, particularly slag, fly ash and pozzolan, to manufacture cement.

 

Lafarge also invests in research to:

 

• develop clinker which produces less CO2. For example, new clinkers Aether incorporate less limestone and can be heated to lower temperatures, which will allow a 25 to 30% cut in CO2 emissions.
• perfect processes which make more efficient use of energy,
• optimize the composition of concrete and improve recycling.

The construction sector as a whole consumes a large amount of energy. The building is the source of 40% of the CO2 emissions of developed countries.

As a responsible player, Lafarge seeks to reduce the environmental impact of construction and promote sustainable construction methods.

The Group addresses all actors in the value chain and participates in partnerships and collective actions, such as:

• the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development),
• the EEB (Energy Efficiency in Building) project,
• the Building Energy Foundation,
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Program),
• collaborative projects with renowned architects (Jacques Ferrier and the Hypergreen project, Marc Mimram and the "Living infrastructures" study).

The Group's industrial ecology approach is built around finding ways to add value to waste. The underlying principle is that waste products from certain industries can serve as energy or raw material resources for other industries. In 2009, alternative fuels such as waste and biomass represented almost 11% of the fuel used by the Group.

Promoting alternative energy sources

For 30 years, Lafarge has been developing solutions to reduce energy consumption and diversify supplies.

Examples of alternative fuel sources:

• biomass: rice husks in the Philippines, coffee pods in Uganda, shells from palm oil nuts in Malaysia,
• various waste products: plastics, solvents and old tires in Germany.

Using waste materials as an alternative to fossil energies has benefits for the Group and for local communities:

• Lafarge uses less fossil energy, reduces its fuel bill and reduces its dependence on the market for traditional fuels,
• the Group provides a service to the community by incinerating waste products that would otherwise be difficult and costly to eliminate.

This approach also has positive effects in terms of CO2 emissions. Biomass is neutral in terms of CO2 while placing waste material in landfill produces greenhouse gases.

Developing alternative materials

Clinker, a key ingredient in cement manufacture, can also be partially substituted by waste. By adding industrial residues such as recycled construction materials and products derived from other industries, it is possible to:

• reduce the use of natural, non-renewable raw materials,
• decrease CO2 emissions,
• reduce costs.