Sustainable development
Community involvement
Holcim's community strategy is based on developing human capacity. In Russia, sewing shops were established in Volsk by our Group company, Alpha Cement, following an engagement to establish the needs of the community. Further details can be found on page 21 of the Corporate Sustainable Development Report, 2009.
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.
Community involvement and business strategy
Holcim currently spends around CHF 42 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. In 2010, 63 percent of Group companies had validated their most important social projects on the basis of the Social Engagement Scorecard.
Over 3 million people worldwide have benefitted directly from the social engagement of Holcim.
Total community spending 2010: CHF 42 million
CSR spending by Group companies in 2010 increased by 16% in US$. CSR spending does not include the spending by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.
"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
