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Support for Holcim’s Net Zero journey

Shareholders for global building materials manufacturer Holcim have approved the company’s first Climate Report.

Shareholders for global building materials manufacturer Holcim have approved the company’s first Climate Report during the Annual General Meeting held on May 4 2022.

Spanning 75 pages, the Climate Report outlines Holcim’s short- and long-term renewable energy targets and a plan to transition to a net zero company.

It’s 2025 Accelerating Green Growth strategy includes ambitious sustainability targets to be achieved by 2025, including:

  • A 25 per cent of ready-mix sales of ECOPact, with 30 per cent to go towards 100 per cent lower CO2 footprint
  • 10 million tons of construction waste recycled in new products, with 75 million tons of waste recycled overall
  • Around 40 per cent of financing agreements to be linked to future sustainability goals.

A key focus is the green transformation of cement production as validated by the company’s Science Based Targets Initiative, which is based on the decarbonisation of cement from the greater use of calcined clay through to construction waste.

Holcim says the opportunities for climate action and renewable technologies are endless, spanning across circular construction initiatives, smart design, and next generation technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).

Holcim is currently running 30 CCUS pilot projects. It will also continue to focus on developing innovative low-emission raw materials such as its green cement ECOPlanet and green concrete ECOPact.

Both range from 30-100 per cent reduced footprint compared to the local industry benchmark.

ECOPlanet cement is estimated to have delivered at least 30 per cent lower carbon footprint compared to ordinary cement since its launch.

“In 2021, we launched the world’s broadest range of green cement, ECOPlanet, delivering at least 30 per cent lower carbon footprint with equal to superior performance compared to ordinary cement (CEM I/OPC) to enable low-carbon construction at scale,” the report said.

The company is also looking to provide 100 per cent recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste.

In addition to this, Holcim is “pursuing other sustainable practices such as using renewable energy in aggregates operations, restoring quarries after use, preserving biodiversity and recycling carbon from operations into recycled aggregates,” the report said.

Holcim has also outlined circular construction goals to reduce, reuse and recycle materials where possible. It recycled 6.6 million tons of construction and demolition waste in 2021 and aims to reach 10 million tons by 2025.

The company is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, including the decarbonisation of raw materials, electricity generation and indirect emissions.

It has committed to a reduction from all operations through its 2030 target of 475 kg CO2/t cementitious materials, with a net zero commitment by 2050.

“On our net-zero journey, we are walking the talk at Holcim, taking clear science-driven action to win the race for climate,” Holcim chief sustainability and innovation officer, Magali Anderson commented in the report.

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