Other environmental impacts
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Given that cement and aggregates are heavy, low-price, bulk products, transport choices are controlled primarily by cost considerations. These increasingly take environmental aspects into account and where possible, Group companies embrace opportunities for optimizing their distribution channels.

For example, Holcim Germany uses water transport to deliver granulated slag – a by-product of steel production – from the company’s processing facility in Salzgitter to its cement plant in Höver. Approximately 200,000 tonnes of slag are transported each year via a waterway connecting the two locations.

Since 2001, Holcim Germany has also used biodiesel, derived from oilseed rape, as fuel for vehicles in its distribution network, which now includes 80 Holcim and 120 contractor trucks.

Other environmental performance data for cement, aggregates and
ready-mix concrete - transport

Transport
Cement Aggregates Ready-mix
2006 2007 2008 2006 2007 2008 2006 2007 2008
Road 76% 73% 73% 97% 95% 95% 100% 100% 100%
Rail 19% 18% 19% n/a 1% 2% n/a n/a n/a
Water 5% 9% 8% n/a 2% 1% n/a n/a n/a
Other n/a n/a n/a 3% 2% 2% n/a n/a n/a
 
Corporate Sustainable Development Report
Report 2007
Assurance statements
GRI content index
Additional information
Holcim Group Environmental Policy
Fact sheet - Environment
Fact sheet - Climate change
Memberships and partnerships
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
UN Global Compact
Other memberships and partnerships
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