Holcim launch nature-positive strategy

Company commits to nature-based approach with measurable 2030 biodiversity and water targets

HOLCIM have announced their strategy to become nature-positive by restoring and preserving biodiversity and water while bringing more nature into cities. The company’s positive impact on biodiversity will be based on transformative rehabilitation plans and measured by a science-based methodology developed in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Preserving water across their business, Holcim aim to replenish freshwater in water-risk areas while lowering water intensity across all their product lines. The company will also accelerate the deployment of solutions such as Hydromedia and green roof systems for more liveable urban environments.

Holcim’s nature-positive strategy will place them among the 1% of the 500 largest global companies with science-driven biodiversity targets and the first in their sector with a freshwater replenishment commitment.

Magali Anderson, chief sustainability and innovation Officer at Holcim, explained: ‘With nature at the heart of everything we do, I am pleased that we are taking significant steps to improve our biodiversity and water stewardship in a measurable and science-driven way.

‘Building on our net-zero commitment, our nature-based solutions play a vital role in reducing the impact of climate change and increasing our business’ resilience. Becoming nature positive plays a critical role in our vision to build progress for people and the planet.’

Eva Zabey, executive director of Business for Nature, said: ‘We congratulate Holcim for their ambitious biodiversity and water goals as part of their nature-positive journey.

‘Implementing Holcim’s nature strategy can drive scalable change both within the building materials sector and industry as a whole. We need all businesses to rapidly step up their actions and commitments to protect and restore the ecosystems on which we all rely to create healthy and resilient societies.’

On their journey to become nature-positive, Holcim commit to:

• Deliver a measurable positive impact on biodiversity by 2030 based on the Biodiversity Indicator Reporting System (BIRS) developed in partnership with IUCN, with a global BIRS baseline completed on all managed land by 2024 and all quarries to have rehabilitation plans by 2022
• Replenish freshwater in water-risk areas by 2030, with 75% of sites to be water-positive and 100% of sites to be equipped with water-recycling systems
• Lower water intensity across their business lines by 2030, with a 33% reduction in cement, 20% reduction in aggregates and 15% reduction in ready-mixed concrete.