CEMEX - Sustainability Cases RSS

Our People | Health & Safety

The CEMEX Safety Award

Since 2000, the annual CEMEX Safety Award has promoted safety and health at our operations worldwide. Sites are judged on performance, risk management, incident investigation, analysis, and follow-up.

Our People | Health & Safety

Protecting cyclists

Cyclists face a high risk of traffic accidents involving large vehicles.

Our People | Development opportunities

Helping our executives develop skills and knowledge

The CEMEX International Management Program aims to develop the skills and knowledge of 60 top-performing middle managers each year.

Our People | Human Rights and diversity

Promoting human rights and diversity

We are committed to preventing discrimination and upholding the human rights and labor principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

Our People | Engagement

CEMEX employees give time to encourage students’ success

In partnership with IMPULSA, the Mexican affiliate of Worldwide Junior Achievement, volunteers from CEMEX Headquarters have donated 185 hours of their time to reach approximately 580 local students at the Escuela Primaria Venustiano Carranza, Monterrey. Annually, Junior Achievement reaches approximately 8 million students worldwide.

Environment | Quarry restoration

CEMEX Partners with BirdLife International

We work in partnership with conservation organizations to share expertise and improve the way we manage biodiversity.

Environment | Quarry restoration

Landscaping and restoration of sites in UK

CEMEX Angling developed out of the sand and gravel industry and can be traced back to the late 1960s when the Halls Angling Scheme was established to provide a visible, popular, and easily sustained leisure after use of sand and gravel pits.

Environment | Quarry restoration

The Eversley Quarry Restoration in the United Kingdom

The Eversley Quarry is a unique example of how the restoration of a mineral extraction site can provide benefits to the local community.

Environment | Quarry restoration

La Fiscala quarry in Colombia

This quarry is currently under a rehabilitation phase using native flora species to provide shelter for migrating birds that fly through Bogotá.

Environment | Quarry restoration

Quarry restoration in Alcanar, Spain

In 1999 CEMEX signed an agreement with the Barcelona University through the Fundation Bosch i Gimpera to explore the restoration of its quarry in Alcanar (Tarragona, Spain).

Environment | Quarry restoration

Greywacke Ambrock Quarry in Germany

In 2000 the quarry reserves for this site were approximately 10 years. However, recently identified geological conditions prevented additional mining explosions: a geological disturbance was visible in one section that threatened a sudden landslide during quarry operations.

Environment | Quarry restoration

Restored sand and gravel quarry becomes top eco-friendly attraction

The Attenborough Nature Reserve is a restored sand and gravel quarry providing a habitat for plant and animal species and a location for outdoor leisure activities in the United Kingdom.

Environment | Quarry restoration

Protecting biodiversity in Davenport

For many years, the CEMEX cement plant at Davenport on the North California Coast in the US has been a careful guardian of the coast and over 4,000 hectares of forestland.

Environment | Quarry restoration

Global conservation partnership for CEMEX sites

In December 2007, CEMEX and BirdLife International signed a 10-year global agreement, building on the existing relationship between BirdLife and CEMEX in Europe which dates back to 2003.

Environment | Climate change

Climafuel in the United Kingdom

Amongst the alternative fuels used in the UK to replace up to 20-30% of the fossil fuels required to heat the cement kilns, is Climafuel, which is derived from household residual waste and commercial waste.

Environment | Climate change

Germany and the use of alternative fuels

Germany leads the way in the use of alternative fuels; the country’s cement industry provides an important waste disposal route.

Environment | Climate change

Introducing alternative fuels

The high temperatures required in cement kilns make them ideal for safely disposing of some of society’s wastes, recovering energy in the process.

Environment | Climate change

Eurus Wind Farm in Oaxaca , Mexico

With 167 wind turbines generating up to 1.5 megawatts (MW) of power each, the Eurus wind farm in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, will have a production capacity of 250 MW and supply 25% of our energy needs in Mexico.

Environment | Climate change

Sustainable transport in France

A new rail and river link at our Marolles-sur-Seine site, an hour south of Paris, is the first of its kind in France.

Environment | Conservation

El Carmen

El Carmen is a private trans-boundary conservation area-encompassing deserts, grasslands, forests, and other biodiversity rich ecosystems-located along the border between Mexico and the United States.

Environment | Conservation

Biodiversity partnerships

In addition to our efforts to responsibly manage the land where we operate, we work in partnership with others on wider biodiversity conservation projects.

Environment | Conservation

Campo Santa María - A Diversified Management Model

Located on the border of the states of Coahuila and Nuevo León, Mexico, Campo Santa Maria (10,000 hectares area), lies in the "ecotone" of two major northern Mexico ecosystems: the Tamaulipan thornscrub and the Chihuahuan desert. This position gives the area unique topography, vegetation, and diversity of animal species.

Environment | Conservation

Desert Bighorn Sheep Restoration Program

Our goal is to help restore desert bighorn sheep populations within their former natural range in North America.

Society | Community dialogue

Open dialogue benefits CEMEX and the community

We want to build stronger, long-term relationships with local communities. In some locations we have established committees composed of community representatives and CEMEX employees to identify and address relevant issues.

Society | Community dialogue

Working with communities in the Phillippines

In the Philippines, we work with local residents to plan and manage our community contributions. This approach has improved our relationships with local communities, helped us assess their expectations, enhanced our reputation, and increased project success rates.

Society | Community dialogue

Supporting local businesses in Croatia

Our business benefits from the support of locally-based suppliers. Local companies are often more responsive and reliable, as they can deliver materials very quickly.

Society | Housing and infrastructure

Patrimonio Hoy

Since 1998, CEMEX conceived the Patrimonio Hoy initiative which has helped low income families improve their homes. This program initiated with the objective to reduce the Mexican housing deficit which leaves more than 20 million people with inadequate shelter.

Society | Housing and infrastructure

Recognizing excellence in construction

We introduced the CEMEX Building Awards in 1991 to recognize the best of Mexican construction. In 2004, the contest opened up to international entrants to promote a culture of innovation in the building industry.

Society | Education

Cátedra Blanca (White Cathedra)

Cátedra Blanca or White Cathedra is an ongoing initiative coordinated by CEMEX in Spain in partnership with several Architecture Schools in Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid and most recently in Seville.

Society | Education

Construction workers learn about concrete at university

In Colombia, 30 construction workers attended school for four and a half months after working their day shift. They visited the University Javeriana three times per week at no cost thanks to an agreement between CEMEX, the University, and the Colombian Institute of Cement Producers. After their months of study at the University they graduated and received a diploma.

Society | Education

CEMEX promotes understanding of the environment

In the Isle of Man, CEMEX in association with the Department of Education has launched the CEMEX Scoillyn Glassey Award Scheme 2008.

Society | Disaster relief

Creating family life for tsunami orphans

Late 2004 brought calamity to Southeast Asia in the form of a devastating tsunami that took the lives of countless people. As part of a larger community effort to help, CEMEX responded with funds and resources to support the construction of an SOS Children's Village in Meulaboh, Aceh.

Society | Disaster relief

Financial mechanisms for the delivery of disaster aid in Mexico

ConstruApoyo, a program of CEMEX Mexico that helps rebuild communities affected by natural disasters, was created in late 2005 after hurricanes devastated the south of Mexico.