Global groups shift duties to further cement, concrete sustainability

Sources: Global Cement and Concrete Association, London; Cement Sustainability Initiative, Geneva; CP staff

A strategic partnership between the recently chartered Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is intended to facilitate sustainable development of the cement and concrete sectors and their value chains, while creating work program synergies benefitting both organizations’ members. Work from the WBCSD-hosted Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) will be transferred to GCCA in 2019. 

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BASF, CRH sign on to global, circular economy initiative

Sources: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Geneva; CP staff

BASF AG and CRH Plc are among 30 companies joining the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Factor10. The initiative seeks to advance principles of the circular economy, where the “take-make-dispose” economic model yields to one that is regenerative by design. Charter companies span 16 major sectors and report combined annual sales of $1.3 trillion.

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Cement companies inventory low-carbon production methods per Paris Accord

Sources: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Geneva; CP staff

A new report from WBCSD’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) focuses on technology availability and the need to scale up research and development that can help the cement industry mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. In light of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement’s entry into force, CSI effected an in-depth review of its original papers from 2009, when the sector issued the first ever low-carbon technology roadmap in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

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Cement elite endorse Climate Convention carbon-reporting codification

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Members of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) under the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) concur with formal adoption of the United Nations-crafted Paris Agreement, under which signatory countries pursue long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures. A threshold crossed earlier this fall—where more than 50 percent of signatories took official action toward commitments affirmed at the December 2015 Conference of Parties in Paris—triggered last month’s commencement of GHG management protocols.

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Paris Climate Conference elicits cement leaders’ mammoth emissions reduction plan

19 LCTPi 150

Backed by 16 major producers—nine with significant North American market stakes—the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi) outlined a Cement Action Plan aimed at reducing worldwide industry carbon emissions 20-25 percent by 2030. The announcement was made last month in Paris during the United Nations Climate Conference. Also known as (Conference of Parties) COP21, the event was staged with the aim of securing commitments from nearly 200 countries, whereby carbon dioxide emissions are cut to levels at which global temperatures climb no more than 2°C by 2100—a benchmark below the levels embodied in conference participants’ pledged plans.

 
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LafargeHolcim executives bring action plan to UN Climate Conference

Sources: LafargeHolcim Ltd., Jona, Switzerland; United Nations; CP staff

The world’s leading cement, aggregate and concrete producer will offer energy and environmental management perspectives at four United Nations Climate Conference sessions, topped by the introduction of a World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD)/Cement Sustainability Initiative project. Also known as (Conference of Parties) COP-21, the event runs through December 11 in Paris and involves 150-plus countries representing nearly 90 percent of carbon emissions across the globe.

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Cement companies score best on carbon, energy in sustainability watchdog audit

An external audit of multinational producers behind the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Cement Sustainability Initiative finds high scores in two of seven key CSI Charter areas: 1) Carbon Dioxide and Energy Management and 2) Fuels and Materials Use. Emissions reduction and resource optimization have netted economic savings, improved waste recovery, and nurtured innovation.

 
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Sustainability watchdog: Cement companies score on carbon, energy metrics

Sources: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Geneva; CP staff

An external audit of the multinational producers behind the WBCSD Cement Sustainability Initiative finds high scores in two of seven key CSI Charter areas: 1) Carbon Dioxide and Energy Management and 2) Fuels and Materials Use. Emissions reduction and resource optimization have netted economic savings, improved waste recovery, and nurtured innovation.

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Supplementary binders help global cement industry cut CO2 emissions 17 percent

WBCSD

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Cement Sustainability Initiative’s Getting the Numbers Right (GNR) database indicates producers reduced specific net carbon dioxide emissions per ton of cementitious product to 1,261 lb. (629 kg/tonne) in 2011 from 1,515 lb. (756 kg/tonne) in 1990. CSI membership includes all multinational companies with integrated North American operations.

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Environmental Product Declarations workshop dovetails ASTM C09 committee meetings

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

“An Introduction to Product Category Rules (PCR), Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and Other Aspects of Sustainable Process and Resilient Materials” will be held December 8 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville (Fla.) Riverfront, host venue of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates standards development meetings.

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