Lafarge Africa Launches its 2021 Sustainability Report

Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, August 3, 2022. Leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company, Lafarge Africa Plc., presented its 2021 Sustainability Report to investors and the general public at the Facts Behind the Sustainability Report session hosted by the Nigeria Exchange Limited

The comprehensive sustainability report shows that the company’s focus on sustainability has truly been effective and yielding positive results for its main stakeholders and the environment. This new edition sets out an updated four strategic pillars on which the company’s sustainability plan is based including Climate and Energy, Circular Economy, Nature and People.

Throughout the reporting year, Lafarge Africa has continued to be at the forefront of demonstrating tenacity, leveraging partnerships and managing the impact of the pandemic by fostering resilience and robustness. Its pillars have remained an anchor that has helped to drive significant impact for people, prosperity and the planet.

The company during the year reduced its CO2 emissions at its Ewekoro Line 1 plant by 69% following the investment made on equipment in 2020. It also achieved a 25% increase in the use of waste through its Geocycle business to support eco-manufacturing and over 90% increase in corporate social investments.

The building solutions giant also kicked off the ‘Green Logistics Initiative’ with the launch of 52 natural gas (LNG) fueled trucks to promote clean energy and a safe environment. The implementation of the natural gas-powered trucks has improved environmental performance as LNG generates 30% less CO2 than fuel oil and 45% less than coal.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, Mr. Temi Popoola in his opening remarks said: Today's presentation reaffirms Lafarge Africa’s unwavering commitments to adopting sustainable business practices and transparency in their approach to reporting progress on incorporating environmental, social and governance disclosures by leveraging the facts behind the sustainability report platform to update capital market stakeholders on their performance on key non-financial parameters.

He continued: ‘The decision taken by Lafarge Africa is truly commendable and will undoubtedly contribute towards favorable positioning the company in the light of ethical and environmentally conscious Investors.’

Lafarge Africa’s commitment towards driving sustainable value continues to propel the organization to implement, improve and innovate. The strong governance frameworks that have been deployed by Lafarge have been effective, supporting our ambition to monitor, measure and evaluate.

In 2021, Lafarge was crowned with the prestigious Corporate Governance Awards by the Institute of Directors underscoring the organization’s drive to delivering on all Environmental, Social and Governance parameters.

Also speaking at the event, the Country CEO, Khaled El Dokani reiterated the company’s successes and impact in 2021. “Throughout the reporting year, we remained focused on our ambitions and goals to deliver innovative and sustainable products while ensuring that we improve our footprints in Nigerian society. As an organization, we are gradually transitioning from the impact of a global pandemic, we continue to pursue set corporate and sustainability targets.”

El Dokani added: “With the stewardship of our sustainability performance in 2021, we have just made our first attempt at integrated reporting. This is one of the ways that we are demonstrating our commitment to this course – aligning our financial and non -financial performance as an organization.”

“Our sustainability targets enable us to innovate, influence and aim for continuous improvement. We are committed to partnering with our various stakeholders to ensure that our journey is progressive and future-fit.” he concluded.

The Head of Sustainability and Corporate Brand, Titilope Oguntuga during her presentation of the Facts Behind the Sustainability report said: ‘The theme for the 2021 Sustainability Report is ‘Delivering Sustainable Building Solutions for a Green Future.’ It is a demonstration of how aligning corporate purpose and performance yield remarkable results. We believe that creating a world that is future-fit is important.’

She further mentioned that Health and Safety, environmental sustainability as well as social impact will continue to be a constant barometer in Lafarge Africa’s sustainability journey and reiterated the organization’s commitment to its net zero ambitions.

The event ended with a virtual closing gong ceremony. The Lafarge Africa 2021 Sustainability report will be hosted and made available on the company’s website.

About Lafarge Africa Plc

Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building solutions company is a member of Holcim Limited, a world leader in building solutions accelerating our world’s green transformation . Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lafarge Africa is actively participating in the urbanization and economic growth of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa.

Lafarge Africa has the widest footprint in Nigeria with cement operations in the South West (Ewekoro and Sagamu in Ogun State), North East (Ashaka, in Gombe State), South East (Mfamosing, Cross Rivers State) with Ready-Mix operations in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Lafarge Africa has a current installed cement production capacity of 10.5Mtpa.

Lafarge Africa leverages on its innovative expertise to provide value-added products and services solutions in the building and construction industry in Nigeria. Additional information is available on the web site at www.lafarge.com.ng

About Holcim 

Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its strategy Holcim is becoming a net zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving the circular economy as a world leader in recycling to build more with less. Holcim is the company behind some of the world’s most trusted brands in the building sector including ACC, Aggregate Industries, Ambuja Cement, Disensa, Firestone Building Products, Geocycle, Holcim and Lafarge. Holcim is 70,000 people around the world who are passionate about building progress for people and the planet through four business segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates and Solutions & Products.

More information is available on www.holcim.com