We see ourselves as a partner in the community. The basis for good relationships is open communication: We therefore maintain a transparent information policy and endeavour to provide accurate information in a responsible manner. We also strive for lively and constructive debate: both internationally and at a local level.
Taking the initiative
We have joined forces with partners from commerce and the community, both at Group level and in the regions, to promote best practice standards for increased sustainability in the industry. In the world of politics, we advocate realisable sustainability goals. This requires a close exchange of ideas with our stakeholders. More than 80% of our locations maintain an active dialogue with them and are involved in the local communities.
Good partnership HeidelbergCement is a member of the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and is committed to sustainable cement production. For this reason, we have drawn up guidelines at an international level, together with other cement companies, for the areas of climate protection, raw materials and fuels, occupational health and safety, emissions and the impact on the environment at production locations. These were published by the Cement Sustainability Initiative in June 2005 and are currently being implemented at the participating companies. This involves, for instance, collecting key figures, which we have been publishing regularly since the end of 2006. Within the Group, we use these key figures to identify possibilities for improvement, to direct measures and to monitor the achievement of goals.
At the national level, we are involved with
econsense – Forum on Sustainable Development in German Industry organised by the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI). This brings together 23 member companies from nine industries, working to promote political conditions that allow sustainable innovations. econsense aims to bring the interests of industry into the sustainable development debate through open, constructive dialogue.
We will then determine how the protection of biological diversity and the sustainable use of natural raw materials can be integrated even more effectively into our business activity and define concrete steps to do so. HeidelbergCement has thus documented its commitment to the implementation of the international Convention on Biological Diversity and adopted a pioneering role within the industry.