Cemex unveils 'industry first' CO2 tool

643 Cemex says it has developed a carbon footprint tool, the first of its kind in the building materials industry that allows the company to measure the greenhouse gases emissions of its cement, ready-mix and aggregates products.

Unveiling to CO2 tool at COP16, the 2918 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, the company says the footprint tool considers a cradle-to-gate approach, from raw material sourcing to product manufacturing, providing significant assistance to customers in the building sector in calculating the carbon footprint of their projects.

It was unveiled during Key Challenges for Construction in the 21st Century, a round-table discussion the company hosted along with the 646 World Green Building Council. Cemex speakers and invited panellists discussed key trends driving 1037 Sustainable Construction as well as proposals on production practices, design and application of concrete products that can contribute to sustainable construction.

“Cemex is proud to be the first building materials company able to offer its customers comprehensive carbon content information in its key products,” said Luis Farías, Cemex senior vice-president of Energy and Sustainability. “We continually strive to operate our business in a sustainable way by measuring and reducing our carbon footprint in our products and operations.”

Cemex’s carbon footprint tool has been verified by independent certifier DNV, one of the world’s leading environmental certification entities, in accordance with international certification protocols PAS2050, ISO14040, and the draft versions of ISO14067, and the WBCSD/WRI GHG protocol [1148 World Business Council for Sustainable Development/4545 World Resources Institute Greenhouse Gas protocol] Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard.

The knowledge generated throughout this process will better enable Cemex to identify opportunities to further reduce its CO2 footprint.

The tool has already been implemented in all of Cemex’s operating cement plants, and is currently being rolled out across its ready-mix and aggregates operations worldwide. It will begin publishing product specific carbon content for its products in selected operations during 2011, in a roll-out schedule that will be driven by market requirements.

The group will also begin reporting performance indicators related to the roll-out progress in its annual Sustainable Development Report.

Panellist Juan Carlos López Agüí, president of the European Committee for Standardisation (4546 CEN), said: “Measurement, verification and calculation methods performed in accordance with 3041 ISO and CEN standards, and adopted by recognised certification protocols, are key fundamentals to promote low-carbon construction practices.

“Knowing the environmental impact of a product helps producers, consumers and societies make informed decisions and take positive steps towards operating at a sustainable level. CEN and ISO standards offer a solid and transparent basis for full life cycle analysis and allow certification protocols for materials, building products and constructions considering environmental, economic and social aspects.”