Holcim Vietnam: Following Sustainable Development Path to Ensure a Better Tomorrow

Sustainable development has become more important for corporations because of rapidly increasing world population, industrialisation and higher human demands on natural resources. Being one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement, aggregates and concrete, Holcim has long emphasised its commitment to sustainable development. The ‘Triple Bottom Line’ strategy is a key element for long-term growth: economic growth, environmental performance and social responsibility. Holcim’s approach to value creation takes into account its economic performance as well as the environmental and social impact of its operations. This emphasis on the Triple Bottom Line helps Holcim achieve its business goals and maintain its licence to operate.

 

Holcim’s reputation as an industry leader in sustainability is based on its compliance with internal and external standards. The company’s conviction is that it should deliver on its promises. Consequently, it applies high standards of corporate governance, and by demonstrating responsible and transparent leadership and management, Holcim earns the trust of its stakeholders.

 

Holcim’s long-term commitment to environmental and social initiatives began 11 years ago when it entered Vietnam. In early 2008, the Sustainable Development Department (SDD) was established within Holcim Vietnam as an indication of Holcim’s commitment to accompany the country on its path to sustainability. The company has identified five pillars of sustainable development in its business strategy: environmental performance; corporate social responsibility (CSR); sustainable construction; system compliance; and corporate communications.

 

Holcim Vietnam’s SDD defines CSR strategically. CSR encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make them. Holcim’s CSR initiatives focus on developing infrastructure and supporting education and health activities in the community. Holcim is committed to ensuring the long-term vitality of the communities that surround its plant sites by helping them devise a framework for sustainable development. The company engages with its stakeholders through regular dialogues, meetings and community projects. Financial support has been given to specific projects proposed by NGOs or social organisations, such as building houses, bridges, roads and schools in remote areas (in the past years: Durian kindergarten, An Quy kindergarten, Son Hai islet kindergarten, etc).

 

Holcim also builds partnerships with leading universities to foster learning about sustainable development through training courses, career development and research competition. These activities include: Green Summer campaign, career orientation, scholarship programme, talent scholarship programme, student initiatives and various application projects for sustainable development. Holcim also supports education and vocational training programmes, as evidenced by its partnership with the Duc Duc street children care programme in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

On the environmental performance side, Holcim Vietnam operates in accordance with national and international environmental standards, and in certain cases, accepts voluntary standards such as reduction of CO₂ emissions. Holcim consumes energy sources such as fossil fuels, including coal and oil, as efficiently as possible. To guarantee environmental compliance, Holcim adheres to the international Environmental Management System ISO14001 standards for: waste management, gas emission monitoring and control, dust emission evaluation and control, and waste water treatment. As part of its sustainable development goals, Holcim ensures efficient extraction of non-renewable natural resources for cement production, including limestone, clay and other raw materials.

 

Landscaping around the production plants and sites contributes to a healthy working environment for all staff and visitors, and biodiversity is protected through involvement in programmes related to wetlands preservation, eco-tourism and conservation.

 

Holcim Vietnam also focuses on green building, including research on environmentally-friendly construction materials and participation in national organisations devoted to promoting sustainable construction. The company has carried out research and work on building affordable homes and creating environmentally friendly materials, such as Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB), Concrete Interlocking Blocks (CIB), and Cement Manufacturing Units (CMU). These materials will be available for house construction soon.

Apart from other activities, Holcim took a practical step toward reaching its sustainable development goals by launching a business unit called Geocycle that is devoted to waste management. The goal of Geocycle is to reduce the group’s dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels and raw materials by using alternative fuels and raw materials. It also provides a safe and environmentally sound solution for waste materials which would otherwise have been incinerated or landfilled. In 2009, Holcim made significant progress in its sustainable development journey by replacing over 14 per cent of its total energy requirements with waste materials.

 

As a responsible company, Holcim believes its holistic engagement and practical activities will encourage other industries to follow this sustainable development pathway to ensure a better tomorrow.