Apr 8 2010
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX), announced today that its United Kingdom operation (CEMEX UK) is the first cement company in the world to provide certified carbon labels for its cement using the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label, demonstrating the company’s commitment to reduce the environmental impact of its cement.
The carbon label will show the amount of CO2 generated by CEMEX cements in the UK, which is determined, among other factors, by product composition. The carbon footprint is measured by the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (CO2e) generated by its cement from cradle to grave, including the extraction of the raw materials, to manufacturing, distribution, use by customers and disposal at the end of life.
The carbon footprint is certified to the PAS2050 which is the first international standard for companies to measure their carbon footprint of products and services. Its development was overseen by an independent steering group, made up of NGOs, academics, business and government representatives.
The carbon labelling comes on the back of the announcement this week that CEMEX UK's cement division has also been certified to the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products - BES6001 with a score of ‘Very Good’. CEMEX is among the first in the industry to meet the standard, which covers all of the company’s three UK cement plants, in Rugby (Warwickshire), South Ferriby (North Lincolnshire) and Tilbury (Essex).
The certification, which is part of CEMEX’s efforts to meet the requirements of the UK Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Construction, affirms that all cement supplied by CEMEX UK is responsibly sourced, to an independently verified standard that addresses the social, economic and environmental impacts across the entire supply chain.
To meet the standard, CEMEX’s cement products were assessed in accordance to quality, organisational governance, supply chain management and environmental and social impact. The certification also allows for traceability of the product to ensure all areas within the supply chain are operating to high standards.
CEMEX UK’S director of sustainability, Andy Spencer, explained: “The carbon labelling demonstrates the progress and commitment we have made in reducing the carbon associated with our manufacturing process, particularly around the replacement of fossil fuels with alternative waste fuels, and the blending of our cements with by-products from other industries to minimise raw materials use.”
“The label combined with the responsible sourcing certification, and our recent innovative solutions, such as electronic point of delivery to save paper and a pallet retrieval scheme to save wood waste, mean that our customers now have the power to make informed green choices. They should have confidence that our production and supply chains are operating ethically and responsibly. It also supports the building product supply chain to score more credits under the materials section of the Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM, which is the most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings.”
Euan Murray, Head of Carbon Footprinting at the Carbon Trust, said: “People are increasingly interested in the carbon impact of the products they buy. The challenge for businesses, such as CEMEX, is to get meaningful information to them, so they can begin to make informed low carbon choices. The Carbon Reduction Label is designed to help customers quickly identify the brands that have measured their footprint and are committed to carbon reduction. We hope more companies will follow the example of CEMEX and adopt the Carbon Reduction Label.”
The carbon labelled cements are being introduced to customers during April and May, and as part of the label conditions, CEMEX is committed to further reducing carbon over the next two years. CEMEX UK is also extending the Responsible Sourcing certification to its entire business over the coming months.
Source: http://www.cemex.com/