| Resources conservation |
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The production of cement and aggregates depends on long-term access to raw materials acquired through quarrying. We plan our raw material extraction, management and reporting according to a defined process that assesses our impacts at each stage of quarry operation. We are also aware of the importance of water as a natural resource and acknowledge that its growing scarcity in many locations is a key issue. |
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Conserving the ecosystem and biodiversity Rehabilitation guidelines and plans are implemented by almost all cement quarries, resulting in many conservation and restoration projects. Previous quarry sites now host habitats such as wetlands, forests and natural grasslands. We recognize that quarrying activity has an impact on biodiversity and are committed to conducting environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA) following WBCSD CSI guidelines. Our partnership with IUCN (see below), aimed at developing new standards for biodiversity conservation, extends and builds on our efforts. |
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Managing water resources Cement production requires water for cooling heavy equipment and exhaust gases. Water is also required for preparing slurry in wet process kilns, which consume more water than modern dry process cement plants. Most water evaporates during the process. Any that remains is emitted as process effluent, and can be affected by the presence of solids, altered pH or high temperatures. Installation of closed-loop water cycles or settling ponds helps reduce water use. Installation of water meters also improves monitoring and efficiency. Our aggregates and other construction materials businesses also require significant quantities of water (see data below). We remain committed to improving the level of our reporting in this area and are investigating the implementation of comprehensive water monitoring systems at all operations, and will communicate on our progress in the future. A case study about local water management in India can be found here: |
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Global agreement with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Holcim and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) have signed a cooperation agreement in early 2007 to work jointly on ecosystem conservation and biodiversity issues relevant to the building materials sector. Find out more about the ongoing cooperation activities with IUCN here: |
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Other environmental performance data for cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete – Water, quarry management and rehabilitation |
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