Page 338 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

Materials Pr oduction Industries 313

Goal Creation of Value

Strategy Product Focus Geographic Local Management
Global Standards
Diversification

Corporate
Sustainable
Permanent
Human
Mindsets Environmental Better Cost Marketing Resources Social
Responsibility
Management
Innovation
Excellence
Performance
(CSR)
Base People
FIGURE 17.3 Holcim strategy for value creation incorporating a sustainability
mindset.
impacts on local communities, landscape, and ecology,
Holcim has a number of programs in place to manage its
quarries responsibly. For example, noise and vibration dur-

ing blasting are mitigated through careful blast de sign, com-
plete enclosure of processing equipment, and management
of truck traffic to and from operating sites. Groundwater
effects are managed by design of water handling systems
to protect surrounding lands. Dust suppression measures
include enclosure of crushing areas and conveyors as well as
the installation of water spraying systems. Habitat destruc-
tion, wildlife displacement or loss, and visual impact are
reduced through quarry design, by berming and tree plant-
ing, and through the design and implementation of site rec-
lamation and rehabilitation plans.
• Greenhouse gas emissions. Cement manufacturing produces
greenhouse gas emissions from both calcination of limestone
and from fuel combustion for clinker production. On the aver-
age, each ton of cement produces about 0.8 tons of carbon
dioxide. Holcim is committed to reducing global average car-
bon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010, with 1990 as the refer-
ence year. As part of this commitment, Holcim (US) agreed to
reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 12% per ton of product
manufactured between 2000 and 2008 as part of the EPA’s Cli-
mate Leaders program. This is over and above the 15% reduc-
tion already achieved between 1990 and 2000.
• Atmospheric emissions. In addition to carbon dioxide, ce -
ment manufacturing results in the emission of a number of