Homepage
At a glance 
Global locations 
Organization and management 
Corporate governance 
Key success factors 
Innovation 
Job openings 
Building careers 
Graduates 
Contact 
FAQs 
Spontaneous application 
Customers 
Suppliers 
Trading 
Holcim in China 
How we make 
Stockquote and charts 
Fixed income information 
Key indicators 
Contact 
Event diary 
Reports and presentations 
Media releases 
Event diary 
Contact 
Reports and presentations 
Speeches 
Holcim
Search |  Help |  Sitemap |  Contact |  Home
  Sustainable Development
The business place

Holcim is a globally active company. We operate capital-intensive cement plants, produce aggregates such as sand and gravel, and provide market-related products and services.

Creating business value
In view of the importance of locating production close to the market, our business is local. We have deep roots in the communities in which we operate and our Group companies are important contributors to local economies. The value generated is returned to the local economy and multiplied many times via the activities of our suppliers and customers.

Reporting our economic impacts helps us examine the wider societal benefits and costs that arise from our activities. Through our involvement with the WBCSD development focus area, we are also measuring the contribution of business to development.

The diagram below illustrates the value we believe Holcim contributes to the economic health of a region, through both upstream and downstream employment along the value chain, as well as income generation.


Economic impacts along the value chain

View larger image

Value creation for Holcim and key stakeholders

View larger image
In addition to wages, in 2007, 85% of Group companies reported providing retirement funds or pension schemes, 96% reported providing health and/or accident insurance, 87% reported providing disability coverage and 89% reported providing maternity/paternity leave. Furthermore, 39% of Group companies reported having a policy for preferring to hire local residents.

(See page 150 of our Annual Report for information on employee benefits at Group level.)

EC1


"The recently launched WBCSD Measuring Impact Framework aims to help companies measure and assess their contribution to economic and broader development goals in the societies in which they operate. Holcim agreed to pilot the methodology at one of its operations in Ecuador. Its experience provided useful feedback to finalize the Framework and helpful insights into understanding how its Ecuadorian operation is impacting the communities around the site."

Shona Grant,
Managing Director, WBCSD Development Focus Area

Related information
The business place
Customer and supplier relations
Our production processes
Our production processes See how we produce cement, aggregates, and concrete
More
SD resources
Corporate Sustainable Development Reports
Sustainable Development documents
Memberships and partnerships
Assurance statements
UN Global Compact
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Public Private Partnership with GTZ
World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Dow Jones Sustainability Index
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Contact us
 
Back Back
Top Top