Lafarge Teams up with World Wildlife Fund to Cut CO2 Emissions
The company has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 20% per ton of cement produced worldwide over the period 1990-2010.
Cement manufacturer Lafarge has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 20% per ton of cement produced worldwide over the period 1990-2010. This corresponds to a 15% reduction by 2010 of the absolute level of its CO2 emissions below 1990 levels in industrialized countries.
The commitment has been prepared as part of a conservation partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. WWF will be closely involved in the implementation and monitoring of the CO2 reduction.
To achieve its goal, Lafarge says it will intensify a series of actions the company has been undertaking for more than a decade. The main levers that Lafarge will use to reduce its emissions are: improving energy efficiency and using waste fuels. To this end, WWF is studying the environmental benefits of energy recovery from wastes in cement kilns. WWF has embarked with Lafarge on a joint technical program to review and further develop best practices to ensure that waste fuels are always used safely.
Lafarge also says it will look into ways of increasing the use of renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, etc.) in Lafarge's global operations. Lafarge is ready to take initiatives in this field provided that they can be done economically, company spokesmen say.
Finally, Lafarge plans to use less carbon-intensive cement production to reduce its CO2 emissions, incorporating steel slags and fly ash from coal-fired power stations.
Bertrand Collomb, chairman and CEO of Lafarge, stated: "Preserving and protecting the environment is a key objective for Lafarge. We are convinced that a global industrial group can only continue to be successful if it operates within the framework of sustainable development with a genuine concern for the environment. This commitment will help Lafarge to prepare for a future carbon-constrained world."
Dr. Claude Martin, director general of WWF International stated: "We certainly hope that Lafarge will become a catalyst in the cement sector. When one of the largest global C02 emitters commits to significantly reduce its emissions, this shows that climate action is smart action."
As part of the conservation partnership that it launched in March 2000 with WWF, Lafarge also supports WWF's Forest Reborn project, which aims to restore degraded forest landscapes. The company is also a member of WWF’s Climate Savers program.
The commitment has been prepared as part of a conservation partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. WWF will be closely involved in the implementation and monitoring of the CO2 reduction.
To achieve its goal, Lafarge says it will intensify a series of actions the company has been undertaking for more than a decade. The main levers that Lafarge will use to reduce its emissions are: improving energy efficiency and using waste fuels. To this end, WWF is studying the environmental benefits of energy recovery from wastes in cement kilns. WWF has embarked with Lafarge on a joint technical program to review and further develop best practices to ensure that waste fuels are always used safely.
Lafarge also says it will look into ways of increasing the use of renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, etc.) in Lafarge's global operations. Lafarge is ready to take initiatives in this field provided that they can be done economically, company spokesmen say.
Finally, Lafarge plans to use less carbon-intensive cement production to reduce its CO2 emissions, incorporating steel slags and fly ash from coal-fired power stations.
Bertrand Collomb, chairman and CEO of Lafarge, stated: "Preserving and protecting the environment is a key objective for Lafarge. We are convinced that a global industrial group can only continue to be successful if it operates within the framework of sustainable development with a genuine concern for the environment. This commitment will help Lafarge to prepare for a future carbon-constrained world."
Dr. Claude Martin, director general of WWF International stated: "We certainly hope that Lafarge will become a catalyst in the cement sector. When one of the largest global C02 emitters commits to significantly reduce its emissions, this shows that climate action is smart action."
As part of the conservation partnership that it launched in March 2000 with WWF, Lafarge also supports WWF's Forest Reborn project, which aims to restore degraded forest landscapes. The company is also a member of WWF’s Climate Savers program.
