Sustainable development
CO2 performance
Despite an approximately 100% increase in our global cement production between 1990 and 2010, our increase in absolute net CO2 emissions was only around 60%, due to improvements in energy and process efficiency, the growing amount of waste-derived fuel used in kilns and increased use of mineral components.
Absolute emissions *
*Due to ownership changes, the figures for previous years have been restated.
PwC provided independent assurance of our CO2 data for the 2008 and 2009 reporting periods.
PriceWaterhouseCoopers statement
Specific emissions *
Holcim has reduced its specific net CO2 emissions by 21% from 1990 to 2010, excluding CO2 emissions from on-site power generation.
*Due to ownership changes, figures for previous years have been restated.
Emissions from onsite power generation
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Emissions from on-site power generation (million tonnes CO2) | 0.6 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 |
The increase in emissions from on-site power generation results from acquisitions of operations in countries where power supply from the national grid is inadequate or erratic.
Aggregates, ready-mix and asphalt
The impact of aggregates and other construction material on climate change is relatively small and is mainly associated with fuel and power consumption.
| Aggregates, ready-mix and asphalt | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregates | Ready-mix | Asphalt | |||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Absolute gross CO2 emissions (million tonnes) | 0.24 | 0.22 | 0.29 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.45 | 0.31 | 0.30 |
| Specific gross CO2 emissions* (kg CO2/tonne of product) | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 37.5 | 32.5 | 29.0 |
| *Specific emissions for ready-mix = kg/CO2/m3 of concrete ** Asphalt figures restated to include use of liquid fuels and natural gas which were previously not included | |||||||||
CO2 emissions from our aggregates, ready-mix and asphalt businesses are calculated from on-site fuel consumption according to the GHG Protocol tools for stationary and mobile combustion.
