Our commitments and approach to sustainability
Construction materials help create our way of life - where we live and work, how we travel and how we spend our leisure time. Lafarge finds new ways to meet these basic needs whilst ensuring it is as efficient, innovative and sustainable as possible.
Lafarge A&C UK defines and measures its sustainable ambitions through the ‘five capitals' model.
Our People = Human Capital |
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Objective Create and sustain a business where employees are healthy, safe and motivated. Employees will be recognised for their competence, engagement and pride.
Measures
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In ActionWe have a health & safety goal of zero harm to any person working for us. There is frequent communication with employees on health & safety issues and managers are tasked with site safety audits.
A&C UK has been the safest business in its sector for several years.
In 2009 nearly 10,000 hours were spent visiting sites across the UK by senior managers to talk about safety - that's almost 200 each week! |
Our Products and Services = Manufactured Capital |
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Objective Provide customers with products and services efficiently and sustainably.
Measures
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In ActionSustainability is a priority for many customers. Lafarge's high-quality, innovative products offer enhanced environmental credentials.
Where possible, Lafarge uses secondary aggregates to conserve primary resources. The company leads the way in distributing its products by rail and water, running dozens of barges each week that transport bulk materials from quarry to wharf. This takes tens of thousands of lorry journeys off the roads around the UK each year. |
Our Partners and Communities = Social Capital |
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Objective Balance the needs of our partners and communities by working together towards common goals.
Measures
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In Action
Lafarge recognises its responsibility and works hard to play a positive role. This involves an ongoing commitment to liaison, open days, school visits, sponsorships and donations.
An area of the National Forest in Derbyshire used funding from Lafarge to create an outdoor classroom to demonstrate how different timbers are grown and used. The area has 15,000 trees and is a haven for wildlife. |
Our Legacy = Natural Capital |
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Objective Ensure the business fulfils its responsibility in sustainability.
Measures
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In ActionLafarge puts as much effort into planning for the quarry after its active life as it does into opening a new quarry. The company pioneered techniques to ensure its sites are carefully restored, often creating habitats that support rare species.
Recognised as one of the best examples of quarry restoration, Panshanger Park, Hertfordshire, covers around 320 hectares of parkland. Findings from the scheme are being shared with other organisations such as The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.
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Our Finances = Financial Capital |
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Objective Manage the business so that continued financial success is achieved, ensuring financial health and sustainable growth. |
In ActionLafarge believes sustainability is good for business and operates as efficiently as possible. The company has a duty to its shareholders to operate in a way that reduces costs and adds value to its product range, which makes a profit that can be re-invested into other opportunities and deliver a dividend for investors.
Graig quarry, North Wales, has benefited from a £1.7 million investment into plant and machinery. The investment cut production costs, reduced fuel, electricity and maintenance, and boosted profitability.
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