Sustainable development – Key to performance, and at the heart of our values
Lafarge’s strategy and culture has incorporated the three main aspects of sustainable development – economic, social and environment issues. We firmly believe that there can be no sustainable economic performance without dialog, social progress and protection of the environment and our commitment to sustainable development dates back many years.
Our industry plays a key role in development: concrete is the second most widely consumed substance in the world after water and is used in all infrastructure projects that are essential to communities’ economic and social development. It serves man’s fundamental needs of housing, health, education and mobility in the form of roads, schools, hospitals and water supply infrastructures, to give just a few examples. We are fully aware of our responsibilities and hence develop solutions to ensure that this development does not damage the environment or people’s quality of life, but rather that it helps to improve the world in which we live.
On the economic side, optimizing our use of non-renewable resources allows us save rare resources and reduce our production costs. This is achieved primarily through responsible use of recycled materials and alternative fuels, as well as using alternative raw materials and sub-products from other industries, such as fly ash and slag from the coal and steel-manufacturing industries. Due to their similar hydraulic qualities, these materials can be used in place of binders in the cement industry and also help to reduce our CO2 emissions. Lafarge India optimizes use of blended products like fly ash and blast furnace slag to produce high quality cement in line with our global standards.
At Lafarge India, we focus on rehabilitation of quarries by restoring the biodiversity to its natural state thus ensuring optimal integration of our operations with the environment. In order to maintain adequate green cover, tree plantation drives are carried out, both at plant sites and mining lease areas. The Lafarge Group has committed to achieve its global target to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 20% over a decade period. This commitment has prompted us to seek out innovative technical solutions, both in terms of procedures and products.
On the social side, openness to society, active dialogue and the creation of ambitious partnerships with our stakeholders, NGOs, local communities and local government enable us to integrate our activities into the local economy in close collaboration with the communities living around our plants and quarries. Lafarge India focuses on its core themes of employability, education, health and low cost housing and implements Corporate Social Responsibility projects aligned to these themes on a structured and regular basis.
Lafarge India is committed to developing a workforce with specific skill sets and know-how that would help them to participate and integrate with the development of India by contributing in sectors with higher growth trajectories. An innovative programme – Project Employability was launched to impart certified mason training to unemployed youth in areas neighbouring our plants. Implemented in collaboration with the Institute of Engineers, trainees undergo rigorous on-campus training, followed by evaluation exams. At the end of the programme, they receive certification and are provided recruitment opportunities by Lafarge customers. This project has won many accolades and is also recognized as one of the best social development programmes by the Lafarge Group.
Lafarge India also implements Project Affordable Housing in order to facilitate low income groups to become owners of houses built with modern materials like cement and steel having provisions for sanitation and drinking water. We have developed many architectural designs, which are available free of cost to prospective home builders.
Education plays a vital role in the development of an industrial workforce. We also believe that educating a girl child will someday translate into educating an entire family. Lafarge India implements “Computer Education for the Girl Child” whereby girls studying in Government middle schools are provided with free computer education. We provide infrastructure and qualified and trained teachers to impart the program. The curriculum is designed to not only expose the girl child to operating a computer, but also systematically supplementing the classroom education by teaching various subjects through friendly interactive software.
Extending healthcare facilities to the communities surrounding our plants has been a focus activity. We operate mobile dispensaries which travel with doctors and medical supplies to villages and regular health camps are organized inviting specialists doctors. We also partner with the health authorities and other agencies to roll-out special campaigns like Polio immunization, eradication of Malaria, nutritional deficiency improvement and treatment of tuberculosis.
