Holcim release 2014 Corporate Sustainable Development Report

New report presents measurements and progress against targets set out in ‘Ambition 2030’

HOLCIM have today published their 2014 Corporate Sustainable Development Report outlining the Group’s economic, environmental and social performance, and presenting their objectives for the areas of occupational health and safety, social responsibility, sustainability and enhanced solutions, climate change, resources, and communities.

The report builds on the ‘Holcim Sustainable Development Ambition 2030’ announced in 2013. The ‘Ambition’, which was developed in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and sustainability experts, reflects Holcim’s aspiration to go beyond ‘business as usual’ and to be ‘part of the solution to the challenges of our time’. The strategy focuses on activities in the areas of climate, resources and communities, with an intention to significantly increase the Group’s portfolio of sustainability enhancing products and services.

The 2014 Corporate Sustainable Development Report provides the initial measurements and progress against the targets set out in the Ambition and gives details of the definition of ‘sustainability enhanced solutions’.

Holcim’s chief executive officer, Bernard Fontana (pictured), commented: ‘I am particularly pleased with the progress we have made with compliance, and the successful implementation of the Holcim Integrity Line. The report shows that the system is fully operational, with investigations conducted into reported incidents, and that there are consequences to non-compliance.’

Holcim’s Code of Business Conduct was ranked number one among Swiss companies in terms of completeness and relevance, as determined by a set of objective criteria by the advisory firm KPMG.

The Code offers guidance and provides examples to help employees when they are confronted with challenging situations in their daily work. It also contains references to the Holcim policies and relevant laws and regulations that provide the background for many of the topics included in the Code and the compliance programme.

Holcim say their number one priority remains the safety of their employees and those of suppliers and third-party companies. The company has spent a number of years focusing on the reporting culture to build trust throughout the Group, and says the results have started to reflect this change.

In 2014, Holcim recorded a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) for direct employees of 1.6, and a Total Injury Frequency Rate (TIFR) of 4.8. The company says it is continuing to work hard to strengthen its safety performance, and has a number of programmes and initiatives that allow it to provide targeted support where specific and individual improvements are required.