The cement industry is responsible for around 5% of global man-made carbon dioxide emissions. Half of this is attributable to the calcination of limestone in clinker production, 40% to the fuels used in clinker burning and 5% each to electrical energy and shipping. Climate protection is one of the main goals of our sustainability strategy.
Reducing specific carbon dioxide emissions to protect our climate
For HeidelbergCement the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is at the centre of all climate protection activities. As member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) we have committed ourselves to reducing our specific net CO2 emissions by 15 per cent by 2010, compared with 1990. Through improved energy efficiency, the modernisation of our plants and an increased use of alternative fuels we have already achieved this goal in 2007: We were able to reduce specific net CO2 emissions, which are recorded in all our plants, from 783 kg CO2/tonne of cement in 1990 to 654 kg CO2/tonne of cement in 2007. This corresponds to a reduction of more than 16 per cent.
|
Absolute CO2 emissions
[million tonnes CO2] |
Specific CO2 emissions
[kg CO2/tonne of cement] |
|
gross |
net |
gross |
net |
2007 |
55.9 |
53.6 |
683 |
654 |
2006 |
50.7 |
48.7 |
680 |
653 |
2005 |
46.7 |
44.8 |
708 |
679 |
2004 |
47.3 |
45.5 |
722 |
695 |
1990 |
54.6 |
54.0 |
792 |
783 |
As a raw material mining company, HeidelbergCement is aware of its responsibility towards saving natural resources. Due to the high temperatures necessary for burning clinker, our cement kilns are well-suited for using alternative fuels. As far as technically possible, we replace fossil fuels by alternative fuels. Thereby, we contribute considerably to a sustainable waste management.
HeidelbergCement is the industry leader in the use of alternative fuels such as used tyres and plastics: in 2007, 17 per cent of fossil fuels could be replaced by secondary ones Group-wide. In Germany, this rate amounts to around 50 per cent. Moreover, we increasingly utilise biomass –from rice husks to sewage sludge – amounting to around one third of total alternative fuel consumption.
In 2006, our CO2 data have been successfully verified by an external certification body.