Our International Sustainability Agenda

The cement industry has taken a lead, not just in UK but internationally, in tackling the sustainability challenge. Globally, the BCA member companies participate in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (WBCSD CSI) through an agenda for action that is built on eight key aims:

1 climate protection:

Implement an industry protocol for monitoring and reporting CO₂ emissions - each company to set reduction targets.

2 fuels and raw materials:

Develop guidelines for responsible use of all fuels and raw materials in cement kilns.

3 employee health and safety:

Task force to ensure effective systems to control health and safety performance and companies to share experience to reduce accidents.

4 emissions reduction:

Develop industry protocol for measuring, monitoring and reporting emissions - companies to publicly report emissions targets.

5 local impacts:

Create guidelines for economic and social impact assessment by cement companies.

6 internal business:

Integrate sustainable development principles into management systems and into relationships with business partners and society generally.

7 an invitation:

Bring other cement companies into the initiative and engage with third party stakeholders.

8 reporting progress:

An interim The cement sustainability initiative progress report (pdf, 945kb) has been released by wbcsd in June 2005 and a full report is planned for October 2007.

Through their parent companies, Lafarge Cement UK, Castle Cement and CEMEX UK Operations are committed to improvements. In addition, Tarmac Buxton Lime and Cement has undertaken to adopt the commitments within the WBCSD CSI.

The industry spent $4 million to examine the issues it faces globally over the next 20 years. This is one sustainability initiative that is based not just on words but on action, because it includes a programme of work, some involving individual actions and some partnership projects.