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Holcim’s community strategy is based on developing human capacity. In villages around the Kodinar plant in Gujarat, India, the Ambuja Cement Foundation has established self-help groups that enable women to acquire new skills and access micro-credit opportunities. For details, see the case study on the right hand navigation.
We aim to link our CSR engagement with our business activities. Our Group companies focus on projects in collaboration with stakeholders where our expertise can contribute to achieving greater impacts. Engagement areas include education provision, infrastructure building and sustainable community development.
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Community involvement and business strategy
Holcim currently spends around CHF 41 million on community initiatives, donations and in-kind support, which is over 1 percent of net income before tax.
To ensure that community activities improve sustainable livelihoods in the communities and contribute to the company’s overall objectives, all Group companies are encouraged to review their community initiatives with a ‘Social Engagement Scorecard’ (SES). Based on a participatory approach, the SES provides a framework for selecting and implementing projects that are aligned with our CSR policy. It also enables us to evaluate their progress against sustainability objectives and measures of success. Since the roll out of the scorecard, 29 percent of the ongoing projects have been assessed.
Over 2 million people worldwide have benefitted directly from the social engagement of Holcim.
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Total community spending 2008: CHF 41 million
CSR spending by Group companies in 2008 decreased by 4% in US$. CSR spending does not include the spending by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.
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Community spending breakdown 2008
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"A cement plant touches the whole community. I am pleased that Holcim’s social commitment has nothing to do with philanthropy. In South America, we are seeing clearly that philanthropy is not improving the lives of the poorest. The Social Engagement Scorecard is an advanced approach, but I would like to see more metrics to quantify its impact. What is really changing for people?"
Fernando Almeida,
Executive President, Business Council for Sustainable Development, Brazil |
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