The building materials giant is inviting researchers, students, local communities, NGOs and nature lovers from around the world to pitch their ideas for sustainable quarry management, with prizes of up to €30,000 for the most innovative projects.
The Quarry Life Award supports HeidelbergCement and its partners, such as BirdLife International, in raising awareness of biodiversity in general and of extraction sites as habitats for many species.
Dominik von Achten, chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement, commented: “The time for action is now: The World Economic Forum 2021 Global Risk Report has put biodiversity loss among the five most concerning global risks, both in terms of likelihood and impact.
He added that the competition is part of HeidelbergCement's aim to contribute to the global restoration agenda and work towards a net positive in biodiversity.
"Our sites can provide valuable habitats for a variety of animal and plant species during and after extraction,” he added.
Based on the award the company develops best practices and innovative ideas for quarry management which are then applied on a global scale. Over the last four editions, nearly 1,000 researchers investigated in more than 100 quarries how to protect nature and promote a high diversity of local flora and fauna.
HeidelbergCement says that some projects resulted in improved quarry management, others supported local communities. For example, projects in Ghana created practical solutions to stabilise quarry slopes that allow successful revegetation, while projects across central Europe engaged the community to increase their understanding and appreciation of nature, in particular the crucial role of pollinators.
To participate in the new edition of the competition, entrants can submit a project proposal in the “Research” or “Community” streams. A maximum of six project ideas per country will be selected by the national juries to participate in the competition. The juries are composed of experts from local universities and NGOs as well as HeidelbergCement specialists. From January to September 2022, HeidelbergCement will then open its quarries for the realisation of the selected projects. Bulgaria and Israel are taking part in the awards for the first time. At the end of 2022, the winners will be awarded at national and international level.
