Global strategies. Local initiatives - Holcim (Romania) SA2 Sustainable Development Report 2008 –...

Strength. Performance. Passion.®

Global strategies. Local initiativesSustainable Development Report 2008 – Holcim Romania

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About this report

Contents

This document reflects the way Holcim Romaniaapplied the concept of sustainable development within its business strategy for 2008. It comprises all our initiatives related to social responsibility and environmental protection, as well as their outcomes.The actual data, statistics and results contained in this report reflects the company’s activities and demonstrate our performance in 2008. The objective of the reportis to inform stakeholders of the activities of Holcim Romania in 2008.

Sustainable Development Report 2008 – Holcim Romania

Board of DirectorsForewordVision and strategyHolcim GroupHolcim RomaniaStrategy and ObjectivesManagement systems and toolsWe respect qualityQuality ManagementOrganizational chartEconomic perfomanceEconomic performance of the construction sectorHolcim Romania – Fact and FiguresPrincipal key figures Holcim Group 2008Investment of Holcim RomaniaMain indicators Holcim Romania in 2002-2008Environmental performanceStrategy and objectivesActivities and initiativesEnvironmental investmentsOptimized and efficient utilization of resourcesEmission monitoring and reportingManagement and Rehabilitation of QuarriesWaterTransportWaste selective collectionSocial responsibilityBusiness conductStakeholder relationsEmployment practicesHolcim employeesOccupational health and safetyCommunity involvementGlobal Holcim Awards

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2 Sustainable Development Report 2008 – Holcim Romania

Boar

d of

Dire

ctor

s

Board of Directors

1 Markus Wirth Country Manager2 Nicoleta Salajan Human Resources Director3 Rozica Ovejanu Finance & Accounting Director4 Francois Laporte Marketing & Sales Director5 Emil Raicov Campulung Cement Plant Manager6 Calin Moldovan Turda Cement Plant Manager7 Roman Menz Alesd Cement Plant Manager8 Anastas Dimovski Concrete & Aggregates Director

3 42

7 85 6

Sustainable Development Report 2008 – Holcim Romania 3

Foreword

Strength to always find the best solutions.Performance in acting realistically and responsibly.Passion to build for the future.

Holcim Romania has consolidated its leadership posi-tion year by year within the local cement and aggregates manufacturing industry and furthermore, it has earned the reputation of reliability with all its partners and clients. For us, this is what matters most.Within the difficult economical context in the last few months, it was the quality of our services and prod-ucts that helped us face the beginning of recession. The decline of GDP and direct foreign investments, the postponement or suspension of important real estate projects, the decrease in the cement and aggregate de-mand has affected, without any doubt, Holcim Romania as well. All these will impact directly on our net sales and cash flow.

Our strategies of facing the crisis include the cutting of the operational costs, the reduction of investments in the new projects related to company extension, the improve-ment of our production and support processes’ efficiency. We will also adapt production in certain segments. One of our main priorities is to maintain our clients, especially in this context, when competition will take different shapes. We are convinced that a company as strong as Holcim will find the necessary resources to adapt to the new market conditions. We will adopt a realistic and de-termined attitude, in order to take the most appropriate business decisions. At the same time, we will maintain

Markus Wirth Country Manager

our commitment of acting responsibly. Performance is how our actions are best described and we want our best results to impact directly on the people we work with and communities within which we operate. We focus on our core business, but at the same time, we know that investing in people, state-of-the-art tech-nologies and environmentally friendly solutions is what will ensure the long-term growth of our company and industry in general.

We have evolved year by year and 2008 has been a very dynamic year. Our constant wish of continuously improv-ing all aspects of our daily activities materializes in updat-ing our plants, implementing an efficient management style, optimally using the resources, improving and ap-proaching in a eco-friendly way our products and actively participating in various social responsibility projects.We have invested in the professional development of our people, as well as in their and health and safety, because, we trust that people are our most important assets and realize the benefits of a happy and productive workforce. Our team guides itself by a well-defined set of values and constantly carries our mission into effect – that is, applying the best practices of the Holcim Group within the Romanian market, the communities in which we are present and being our clients’ and suppliers’ most reliable partner in the long – run. We are used to build things solidly. That is why Holcim (Romania) has a solid founda-tion – it develops all its strategies on the basis of the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibil-ity. We are convinced that this will ensure our economic performance, despite the difficult global context and will make it possible for the successful story of Holcim (Roma-nia) to continue for a long time. Our clients’ and partners’ trust and respect are the best evidence that this is the route we should follow.

Vision and strategy

„A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.”Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Professor at Harvard Business School


Visi

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About us and our wishesThe concept of sustainable development, as well as its three elements – economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibility – is what constitutes the basis of the entire activity of Holcim Romania.

Holcim GroupHolcim Group Ltd is one of the most important, globally known players in the cement, aggregates (crushed stone, gravel and sand), concrete and construction-related services industry.

The Group has approximately 90.000 employees and is present in more than 70 countries. With market-oriented structures, new products, skilled employees and efficient environmental management systems, Holcim consolidates the position earned all along these years that have elapsed since its formation.

Holcim is member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). WBCSD is a group of approximately 200 international companies joined by a common sustainable development commitment. The three major directives of this commitment are: economic growth, environment protection and social progress. As a founding member of the Cement

Sustainability Initiative (CSI), Holcim is also able to consider issues from our own industry perspective.

Holcim is also a supporter of the UN Global Compact. With this commitment, the company strives to implement the nine principles of the Compact and to use it as a basis for advancing responsible corporate citizenship. At the same time, the Compact provides Holcim with the opportunity to further its own ongoing programs and processes in the areas of human rights, OH&S standards and environmental protection.


Vision and strategy

Holcim RomaniaHolcim (Romania) SA is part of Holcim Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement, ready-mixed concrete, as well as aggregates (gravel and sand) and construction-related services. Presently, the company owns 3 cement plants in Turda (grinding), Campulung and Alesd, a network of 18 ready-mixed concrete plants, 2 special binders plants and 5 aggregate plants. The environmentally friendly concept, initiated in Romania as a premiere by Holcim, guarantees that concrete plants are based on the latest technology that eliminates noise, dust and allows fresh concrete recycling.

The investments made by Holcim in its plants since coming to Romania in 1997 until the end of 2008 value approximately EUR 660 million, of which EUR 150 million were invested in 2008. Holcim Romania is the first company in its field that received in 2003 triple certification for quality management (SR EN ISO 9001), for environmental management (SREN ISO14001) and for occupational health and safety (OHSAS 18001).

In order to sastisfy its clients’ needs, Holcim Romania has developed new solutions, products and services in the fields of transport, product application and laboratory analysis service. Since 2005, the solution designed to co-process industrial waste by Holcim Romania - Cement Campulung and Cement Alesd was extended in order to co-process over 100 types of wastes.

Complying with all the European Union health and safety recommendations, in 2008 Holcim Romania launched Structo® in 40 kg bags. Structo®, a product designed for multiple applications, is made in accordance with new standards and can be used in regular and ferro-concretes, for different construction elements in civil and industrial works.

8 Sustainable Development Report 2008 – Holcim Romania8

Cement plant

Enviromentally Friendly Concrete Plant

Mobile Environmentally Concrete Plant

Aggregate Plant

Special Binders Plant

Cement Terminal

Another objective related to the product portfolio is the reduction of the specific CO2 emissions by 20% per tonne of cement by 2010. In Romania, this objective was translated in 2008 into the launching of new products with lower clinker factor and low impact on the environment. The use of these new cement types give the final product, concrete, high chemical resistance and low hydrating heat, characteristics that comply with the regulations determined by standards in the construction field.

The company continued its growth, managing to extend its network of ready - mixed concrete and aggregates plants in 2008. Therefore, in February, a fifth aggregates station was purchased in Stancesti, Ploiesti / Prahova, in July, the second mobile concrete plant was launched in Brasov and in December, the eighteenth ecological ready-mix concrete plant was purchased in Cluj. The modernization process of the cement plant from Campulung started in 2005 with the first phase being finalized in 2008 and the second phase being planned to finish in 2009. All these achievements were possible due to the 1400 people that make up the Holcim Romania team.

Visi

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Satu Mare

Oradea

Arad

Timisoara

Craiova

Alesd Cluj-NapocaGligoresti

Turda

Tg. Mures

BrasovSibiu

Campulung

Pitesti

Zarnesti

Ploiesti

Stancesti

Corbii Mari (Agrocomp)

Gaiesti (Estagre)Rancaciov

Uliesti (Agrocomp) Bucuresti


Holcim is committed to the principles of sustainabledevelopment expressed by the three guidelines:• Economic growth• Environmental performance• Social responsibility

Economic growth and healthy financial returns are the decisive factors that enable companies to contribute to building societies that will provide a more sustainable future.

Our objectives are to:• Demonstrate permanent compliance with the highest

standards in order to satisfy the needs of the clients in our industry;

• Secure the strongest competitive position in our markets;

• Establish partnership with suppliers to deliver value-for-cost procurement for the Group and our customers;

• Be recognized as an employer of first choice;• Empower our employees and integrate them fully into

our global network;• Extend our client portfolio;• Prove our commitment to sustainable development;• Be acknowledged as a valued and trusted partner

in our community.

Strategy and objectives

Vision and strategy

Management systems and tools

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.”John Ruskin, british writer


Man

agem

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syst

ems a

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IMS. A system that constantly evolves.We instantly adapt to all the market needs, so that our products correspond to the highest quality standards available.

We respect qualityThe implementation, certification and maintenance of the integrated management system (IMS), has already became a tradition for Holcim (Romania) SA. This way we manage to constantly improve our company’s perfor-mance related to quality, environmental protection and occupational health and safety. The integrated management system is a “live” system, continuously changing. The system constantly adapts in order to correspond to both the demands and expecta-tions of our stakeholders, technological modernization in our locations and the other ever-changing elements, such as legal requirements.

In 2008, Holcim (Romania) SA was awarded by TUV Rheinland a certificate for “the maintenance of an excellent management system”. This excellence diploma is recognition of both our constant interest in proving our ability to ensure products and services that respond to the requirements of the standards and the maturity of our integrated management system.

As compared to the previous year, in 2008:• We required and achieved the extension of the IMS cer-

tification for the new aggregates stations in Gligoresti and Stancesti, as well as for the new environmentally – friendly RMX station in Pantelimon, Bucharest.

• The new clinker production line in Campulung was in-tegrated in the evaluation made by the TUV Rheinland Romania team, within the external supervision audit, necessary for the maintenance of the IMS certification

• We modified the IMS so as to align with to the require-ments from the new version of the OHSAS 18001:2008 standard.

The engagement of the management in the enhance-ment of performance, the investments made in tech-nological modernization and the excellent communica-tion within the company, both functionally and in the management system, constituted the main strengths noted by the external auditors.


Managem

ent system

s and tools

Quality ManagementProduct certification, as integral part of quality management, confirms:• Constant quality of the products • Quality control during the entire production process • That all characteristics of the products are compliant

with the applicable specifications and standards of the

product, as well as with applicable norms and technical agreements.

Cement and cement products – the new comers of 2008In 2008 we have requested and obtained conformity certificates for new products made in our locations:

NotăFor the cements transferred and dispatched from the Shipping Station from the Turda Cement Plant, there is certification, in accordance with SR EN 197 – 2: 2002

LocationProductCE Conformity certificate

Conformitycertificate

Portland Cement EN 197-1: CEM I 52,5 NPortland composite cement EN 197-1: CEM/II B-M/(S-V) 32,5Portland composite cement EN 197-1: CEM/II A-M (S-LL) 32,5 RPortland composite cement EN 197-1: CEM I 42,5R

Portland composite cement EN 197 -1:CEM II B-M (S-LL) 32,5 R (STRUCTO)Portland cement with limestone EN 197-1 CEM/II A-LL 42,5 R

Masonry Cement EN 413-1 MC 12,5(TENCO)

Special road binder, type (HRB 22,5 E) DOROPORT TB 25 and (HRB 32,5 E) DOROPORT TB 35,– in accordance with SR ENV 13282:2002 Special road binder, type (HRB 32,5 E) DOROPORT TB 35 – in accordance with SR ENV 13282:2002Limestone for filler – in accordance with STAS 539:1979Limestone for roads – in accordance with STAS 2914:1984Limestone for soda ash – in accordance with STAS 11016:1978

Cement AlesdCement Alesd Cement CampulungCement Alesd Cement CampulungCement AlesdCement Campulung Cement TurdaCement Alesd Cement CampulungCement AlesdCement CampulungCement TurdaCement Alesd Cement CampulungCement TurdaPitestiCement Alesd

Cement Campulung

Cement CampulungCement Turda

Cement Turda

Cement Turda

••

•

•

•

•

••••••••

••

•

•••

•

••


ConcreteTaking into account the changes brought by the new Practice Code for concrete manufacturing, CP 012/1 – 2007 directive, in 2008 the certification process of manu-facturing control was initiated. The certification process was finalized with the issuing of the certificates for the concrete types produced in our environmentally - friendly concrete plants. In July 1, 2008, the new North Regional Laboratory was inaugurated in Turda. This second-degree laboratory, which exclusively serves the northern area of RMX & Agg., offers services to both internal and external clients.The service portfolio includes the following profiles:• materials for concrete and mortars• concrete, reinforced concrete, pre-compressed concrete• non-destructive tests on concrete.

Currently, the reorganization and update project of the new Bucharest regional laboratory is underway. This laboratory will serve the internal and external clients in the area (aggregates, cement, special road binders).

AggregatesCompared to 2007, in 2008, we extended the product certification for the 16-22,4 mm sort produced in the aggregates plants in Gligoresti, Rancaciov and ZarnestiWe have also obtained the certification of the aggre-gates, according to the SR 662: 2004.For the new aggregates plant in Stancesti, we have re-quested and obtained the CE certifications according to: I. SR EN 12620: 2003, respectively SR EN 12620/AC:2004II. SR EN 13139: 2003, respectively SR EN 1319/AC:2004 III. SR EN 13242: 2003, respectively SR EN 13242/AC:2004IV. SR EN 13043: 2003, respectively SR EN 13043/AC:2004V. SR 662:2002

Limestone and filerFor our work units in Turda and Campulung, we still own conformity certificates for limestone and limestone filer.

The accreditation of the cement laboratoriesBesides maintaining the RENAR ISO 17025:2005 accredi-tation for the cement laboratory in Alesd and Turda, in 2008 we have successfully finalized the audit for the accreditation of the Campulung cement plant laboratory for cement, clinker and fuels analyses.

Man

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To ensure that our policies and guidelines are implemented throughout Holcim Romania, responsibilities for Sustainable Development have been assigned at central and local levels.

At central level, the Country Manager together with the Board of Directors define the general company strategy while at local level the plant managers assume operational responsibility for the prioritization and integration of SD into daily decision making.

Markus WirthCountry ManagerIMS Management Representative

Organizational chart

François LaporteSales & Marketing Director

Roman MenzAlesd Cement Plant Manager

Emil RaicovCampulung Cement Plant Manager

Calin Moldovan Turda Cement Plant Manager

Anastas Dimovski RMX & AGG Director

Nicoleta SalajanHuman Resources Director

Rozica OvejanuFinance Director

• Social Responsibility• Training & Development

Managem

ent system

s and tools

Luminita OpreaCommunication Manager

• Environment• Quality Management• Occupational Health & Safety

Mihaela OdangiuIMS Coordinator

Cristian MardareProcurement Manager

• CO2 coordination• Promotion of waste

co-processing

Oana DicuIndustrial Affairs Manager

Sorin HornoiuManager IT

Economic performance

„When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.”Joe Paterno, American football coach


Econ

omic

per

form

ance

A race we want to winCement industry is the basis of an entire economical sector – constructions – the field with the most spectacular boom over the last few years.

Economic performance of the construction sector

Holcim Romania Facts and figures

In order to evaluate the global economical importance and the relevance of our sector, it is important to understand the fact that the cement industry constitutes the core of the construction field.From a macroeconomic perspective, our product has a value progressively multiplied by workforce involvement and the material value of resulting goods.

2008 was by far the best year in terms of operational performance, a year when our company registered a turnover of approximately EUR 372 mil, which means over 35% increase, as compared to 2007, an increase calculated in EUR, without taking into account the depreciation of the currency EUR/RON by approximately 10%.The overall investment made by Holcim Romania by the end of 2008 amounts to more than EUR 660, of which EUR 150 million are investments made in 2008. An additional amount of EUR 33 million will be invested in 2009 in a number of projects related to the updating of the production technology, environment protection, business development, as well as in new projects regarding occupational health & safety and maintenance of the production facilities in perfect functioning condition.

Principal key figures Holcim Group 2008

Annual production capacity - cement

Sales of mineral components

Sales of ready-mix concrete

Net sales

Net financial debt

Earnings per dividend-bearing share

Net income after minority interests

Sales of cement

Sales of aggregates

Sales of asphalt

Operating EBITDA

Shareholder’s equity

Cash flow from operating activities

2008

194,4

4,8

48,5

15.822

10.099

4,29

1.121

143, 4

167,7

13,5

3.354

12.063

2.329

mil t

mil t

mil t

mil EUR

mil EUR

EUR

mil EUR

mil t

mil t

mil t

mil EUR

mil EUR

mil EUR


Economic perform

ance

Main indicators Holcim Romania in 2002 - 2008

Investment of Holcim Romania*

Turnover

Training

Total investments, of which:

Modernization

Business expansion

Waste co-processing investmentsEnvironment investments

Total amount of goods and services purchased

Other investments

2008mil. €

372.3

0.934

150.9

4.5

138.2

5.5

1.1

296.8

1.6

37.7

2008mil. RON

1371.1

3.44

555.7

16.5

508.8

20.4

4.2

1093.1

5.80

138.7

2007mil. €

296

0.85

125.6

11.9

107.5

4.0

2.1

221.0

-

52.8

2007mil. RON

990

2.84

418.6

39.8

358.4

13.5

6.9

737

-

176

2006mil. €

220

0.7

56.3

13.8

37.6

1.5

3.4

139.6

-

32.4

2006mil. RON

775

2.63

198.1

48.5

132.2

5.30

12.1

492

-

114

2005mil. €

166.5

0.5

34.00

13.7

17.6

0.5

1.4

107.4

0.9

30.9

2005mil. RON

603

1.80

125.3

50.39

64.93

1.68

5.08

389

3.21

112

2004mil. €

130

0.38

27.6

7.4

16.4

1.1

2.2

83.8

0.5

21.5

2004mil. RON

527

1.54

113.26

30.27

67.29

4.63

8.93

339

2.14

87

2003mil. €

105

0.3

60.3

22.2

32.2

2.1

3.3

28.6

0.5

12.2

2003mil. RON

394

1.3

226.5

83.3

120.9

8

12.3

108

2

46

2002mil. €

92

0.6

34.9

17

14.1

0

1.5

51.4

2.3

10.4

2002mil. RON

286

1.8

109.4

53.3

44.1

0.1

4.7

161

7.2

34Direct contributions + paid taxes

I. Cement plant

II. RMX Agg

Investment until 2008

Year of aquisition

Alesd Plant 139.1 mil EUR2000

Campulung Plant 253.8 mil EUR1999

Turda Plant 1997 49.7 mil EUR

101.3 mil EUR

* Investments in Holcim Romania without the aquisitions volumes

Environmental performance

”When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.”

David Orr, environmentalist

Raport de dezvoltare durabila 2008 - Holcim Romania 21


Envi

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ance

We respect what surrounds usProtecting nature and preserving resources is simple business sense, and one of our key focuses. The continuous improvement of our environmental management system is testimony to this.

Strategy and objectives Activities and initiatives Holcim Romania is committed to promote, sustain and apply a robust environmental policy, able to respond to the challenges posed by Romania’s integration into the European Union. As a proof, we have improved the environmental management system implemented according to the ISO 14001:2004 standard. Furthermore, the environmental management system is certified once every three years and is annually monitored in all locations by TÜV Rheinland, the international certification body. We continuously search for new environmental solutions and invest considerably in the development of environmentally friendly products and processes.

Objectives• Reduction of atmospheric emissions by promoting and

implementing best available technologies; • Rational usage of non-renewable natural resources and

development of waste co-processing activities (material and energetic recovery);

• Supply of environmentally friendly products; • Rehabilitation of former industrial sites.

Environmentally Friendly Concrete PlantsHolcim is the first cement, concrete and aggregates pro-ducer in Romania to implement the concept of an “Environmentally Friendly Concrete Plant”. The expertise developed by Holcim in over 700 concrete plants world-wide ensures that the new concept implemented in Roma-nia meets the latest environmental standards regarding: • minimal dust emissions; • minimal noise emissions; • recycling of fresh concrete residues; • full recirculation of water used for truck-mixers washing.


Environmental perform

ance

Cement Plants ModernizationThe implementation of best available technologies in the cement plants of Holcim Romania assures: • permanent emissions control through continuous

monitoring system at clinker kiln stacks;• process automation; • modern dust filters installation and periodic

replacement; • investment in selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR)

of NOx emissions and low NOx burners; • preserving natural resources through partially

substituting the traditional fuels and raw materials with alternatives derived from waste (waste co-processing in the cement production process).

In 2008, due to these implementations, we complied with the limits imposed by the European Union legislation (transposed into the Romanian legislation), a fact proved by the integrated environmental permits received by Cement Alesd and Cement Campulung plants.

Environmentally friendly products New composite cements recently launched have a higher content of mineral components and contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions, as well as energy consumption, thus saving natural energy resources.

Environmental servicesHolcim Romania offers environmental services to waste generators by co-processing waste into alternative fuels and raw materials for the cement manufacturing process. The environmental services are offered in partnership with the ecovalor company, which ensures the direct connection with the waste generators, specialist provides consultancy, as well as the collecting, transportation and pre-treatment of waste in order to optimize co-processing activities.

Transparent communicationThe active involvement of stakeholders in our activities is evidence that we are concerned about the environment. Enviromentally themed events (such as The Open Doors’ Day), participating at various events, seminars, workshops and experience exchanges dedicated to environmental protection are just a few of the actions initiated in order to ensure an open communication and collaboration with authorities and local communities.

Environmental investmentsSince coming to Romania until the end of 2008, Holcim Romania has invested over EUR 28 million in environmental protection. The main environmental investments made in this period were:

• high performance dust filters for the main production installations: clinker kilns, clinker coolers, raw mills and cement mills;

• high performance dust filters for auxiliary installations: silos, slag dryers, crushers;

• improvement of the water management system by installing a modern treatment plant for waste household water and setting up a platform for sludges from waste water treatment plant

• equipment for continuous emissions monitoring on kiln stacks;

• mounting of low NOx emission burners; • quarry rehabilitation programs• Opening a new clay quarry in Campulung, in order to

reduce the SO2 emissions • Closing and rehabilitation of waste dump• Closing the raw materials storage platforms from

Cement Alesd and Cement Campulung in order to reduce the fugitive emissions within the precincts

• Rehabilitation of the clinker transport facility and de-dusting system at Cement Alesd

• Retention walls for the fuel oil tanks at Cement Alesd• High efficiency separator and state-of-the-art filter at

Cement Alesd• Environment projects included in the Muscel Project

(modernization of the clinker production line at the Campulung plant), such as the installation of de-dusting bag filters on the technological flow: raw materials transport, raw material mill, meal transport to the kiln, grate cooler and transport, clinker storage and SNCR (Selective Non Catalytic Reduction)


Optimized and efficient utilization of resourcesEfficient utilization of natural resources is an important objective of our company. We increase the environmental efficiency of the production process mainly by: • waste co-processing in cement plants; • reducing the clinker factor (clinker/cement ratio used in

the production process); • improving energy efficiency; • intensive usage, in the raw materials preparation

process, of materials previously considered limestone quarry waste. Thus, we extended the Alesd and Campulung limestone quarries’ life and reduced the use of natural geological resources.

Waste co-processing in cement plants Waste co-processing into alternative fuels and raw materials in cement plants is a method frequently used worldwide for the treatment and recovery of waste in

a completely safe manner. Waste (industrial or sorted household wastes) co-processing under controlled conditions (from the quality, environmental protection and occupational health & safety points of view) has multiple benefits: • Conservation of natural resources, by the partial

substitution of the traditional fossil fuels (coal, fuel oil, gas) and raw materials (limestone, clay, marl) with alternative ones

• The indirect emissions reduction of greenhouse gases that would result from other methods of waste processing (burning in special incinerators, land filling);

• Medium and long term reduction of the cement production costs (if all the costs related to collecting, transport, pre-treatment and co-processing are covered by the waste generators)

Waste incineration versus waste co-processing in cement plants

Landfilling versus waste co-processing in cement plants

Wastes

Ash Cement clinker

Cement clinker

Incinerator Cement Plant

Co-processing in the cement plants

Traditional Fuels*

Trad.fuels*

CO2NOxSO2

emissions

CO2NOxSO2

emissions

Wastes

CO2NOxSO2

emissions

Wastes

Disposed wastes + levigates

Cement clinker

Cement clinker

Cement Plant

Co-processing in the cement plants

Traditional fuels*

Trad. fuels*

CO2NOxSO2

emissions

CO2NOxSO2

emissions

Wastes

*Trad. fuels = coal,

natural gas, heavy

fuel oil, petcoke

Envi

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form

ance

CO2NOxSO2

emissions

Landfill


Not all types of wastes can be co-processed within ce-ment plants. First of all, these are submitted to a set of compulsory physicochemical analyses, in laboratories equipped with specialized apparatus. Besides the detailed analyses, when wastes are classified into “acceptable” and “non-acceptable” for co-processing, it is important to take into account a number of factors, so as to ensure:• The health and safety of both employees and the

communities living near the cement plants• The protection of the local environment• The conservation of final product quality• The optimum functioning of the cement manufacturing

process

Waste co-processing within Holcim Romania plants has evolved, due to a EUR 16 million investment in the field. The development of this activity at the Alesd and Cam-pulung cement plants makes the co-processing of a wide range of wastes possible:• Petroleum waste (from waste oils and their emulsions

to sludges, tars and impregnated soils)• Rubber (including whole used tires)• Plastic, paper, leather, textile and wood (including

sawdust), as such or impregnated / contaminated with various substances, resulted from industrial sources or from the sorting of household waste.

These wastes are submitted to co-processing either as such or pre-treated (e.g. drying, shredding, homogeniz-ing), in order to stabilize and optimize their quality. Pre-treatment is, therefore, part of the waste recovery process. In most cases, wastes are prepared by companies specialized in pre-treatment. Within Holcim Romania, the company in charge of co-processing is ecovalor. Starting in 2008, ecovalor pre-treats within the Cement Alesd plant the solid wastes collected from wastes generators. Reducing the clinker factorThe basis of the cement manufacturing process is the production of clinker through the decomposition of raw materials (including limestone decarbonation) down to calcium, silica, iron and aluminum oxides and their mineralization as clinker. Clinker production is a complex process, characterized by high energy consumption.CaCO3 => 600 - 900°C => CaO + CO2 (limestone decarbonation)This process inherently emits CO2 (greenhouse gas), resulting from both limestone decarbonation and burn-ing of various fuels in clinker kilns in order to obtain the

thermal energy necessary for clinker formation process. The clinker is then ground together with gypsum and transformed into Portland cement. In order to obtain composite cements, with improved characteristics for some applications, the clinker is par-tially substituted with different mineral components: • natural materials (such as tuff, limestone etc); • residual materials (waste or by-products of other indus-

tries: ground blast furnace slag, fly ash from coal fired power plants etc).

The “clinker factor” represents the percentage of clinker used in cement manufacturing. Reducing the clinker factor is one of the most efficient methods applied by cement plants for preserving natural resources (raw ma-terials and fuels used for clinker production) and reducing CO2 emissions per ton of product.

Improving Energy Efficiency Cement production requires a great amount of both thermal and electrical energy. The increase of energy efficiency, defined as the decrease of total thermal energy consumed per ton of clinker produced and as the total electrical energy consumed per ton of cement produced, is almost entirely determined by the technology applied in the production process and by its modernization level. Besides reducing production costs, the increase of energy efficiency positively contributes to preserving natural re-sources (fuels) and to lowering greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) generated by fuels combustion: - into the cement kilns (direct emissions)- into power plants for producing the electrical energy consumed by the cement plant (indirect emissions)Another way of improving the energy efficiency is the option of using wastes as alternative fuels. This method has a huge potential to reduce the conventional fuels consumption. In Romania, Holcim applies these technolo-gies in its cement plants at Alesd and Campulung.Updating the technology within the three cement plants also contributed to the decrease of electrical energy consumption per ton of product. Some of these projects included: • replacing air compressors with some more efficient ones; • replacing old cement pneumatic conveyors; • using variable speed drives (VSD); • resizing the loads of the ball mills; • installing a high-efficiency separator and a latest generation filter


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One of our ongoing concerns is to answer timeously and completely all legal requests in the area of monitoring and reporting the environmental impact of all of our ac-tivities that are taking place in cement factories, concrete stations, aggregates stations or offices. Having in mind that the impact of our activities on the environment it is mainly due to the cement production process, special importance is given to monitoring the emissions generated by this process.

Standard for Emissions Monitoring and Reporting (EMR)The IPPC directive 2008/1/CE (1996/61/CE) and, respec-tively, the co-incineration directive 2000/76/CE includes a general list of the main substances polluting the air which must be taken into consideration when establish-ing the limit values of emissions. In this respect, Holcim developed and implemented at Group level a standard for monitoring and reporting emissions at the stack of the clinker kiln: the EMR – Stan-dard Emissions Monitoring and Reporting. This standard was implemented in all Holcim Romania cement plants and consists of: • permanent monitoring of dust, CO, CO2, NOx, SO2,

VOC, HCl, NH3 emissions by installing continuous emis-sion monitoring equipment at clinker kiln stacks;

• once-per-year monitoring of heavy metal, dioxins and furans emissions.

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• optimizing the control of the machine tools traffic through PCS (Process Control System).

The energy efficiency improvement in Alesd and Campu-lung plants and the clinker factor reduction are also the basis for the joint implementation project for greenhouse gases reduction, developed by Holcim Romania and the Netherlands Government, with the approval and support of the Romanian Government, according to the Kyoto protocol. The reductions resulting from this project were monitored yearly starting 2004 and periodically verified by an independent, accredited entity. During 2004-2008, emission reductions were over 700,000 tonnes of CO2.

The introduction of the completely automated and extended clinker production line (within the Muscel Project) in mid 2008 also helped with improving energy efficiency. The replacement of the three clinker kilns with a five stage pre-heater and precalciner, designed accord-ing to state-of-the-art technology, leads to significant benefits, in fields of energy efficiency and environmental protection.

Emission monitoring and reporting

Note: Legal limit – 450 mg/Nm3

Source data: Cement Alesd, 2008


By periodically calibrating the monitoring equipment, according to the requirements of the EMR standard, we are making sure that our emissions reports are precise and correct.Reporting the measurements and the monitoring of the emissions: • proves that our operations are according to the legal

requirements of our field of activity; • allows comparison our emissions with other companies’

emissions; • underlines the continuous progress of our environmen-

tal performance.

Dust emissions Dust [mg/Nm3]

NOx emissions NOx [mg/Nm3]

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According to Corporate Sustainable Development Report 2005 (CSDR 2005), Holcim Group has committed to re-ducing global specific emissions of NOx, SO2 and dust by 20% by 2010 in comparison with 2004.With the updating of technology in the Alesd cement plant, there were reduced specific emissions of SO2 and dust by almost 80% and NOx emissions by 30%.

The same reduction tendency is noticeable in the case of Cement Campulung as well, which in 2008 reached the final phase in the Muscel Project. The startup of the modernized clinker production line resulted in a signifi-cant reduction of dust and Nox emissions. This improve-ment, along with the previous opening (in the previous years) of a new clay quarry, has led to the reduction of SO2 emissions.

Monitoring greenhouse gas emissionsThe sources of CO2 emissions from the cement plants owned by Holcim Romania can be classified, according to the volume of the emissions generated, as follows: • decarbonation of raw materials (55%)• burning fossil fuels in the clinker kilns (30%)• transport and burning auxiliary fuels (10%)• electric power consumption (external generation of

electric power (5%).

In order to have a correct inventory of the generated CO2 emissions, we monitor and report them according to the CO2 Protocol for the cement plants, developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This is the tool used worldwide by cement pro-ducers and applied throughout the Holcim Group. Thus there is monitoring as performance indicators of: • absolute emissions (the total quantity of CO2 resulting from cement production); • specific emissions (the CO2 quantity resulting from producing one tonne of cementitious materials).

2007 brought an additional monitoring imposed by the European norms in the area of greenhouse gas trading (EU-ETS), directives also transposed into Romanian legis-lation in 2006.

Thus, Holcim Romania developed, based on the existing guidance at European level and included in the national legislation, monitoring plans for such emissions at the installations in Cement Alesd and Cement Campulung,








that are related to the emissions generated by the clinker kilns (generated during decarbonation of the raw materi-als and burning various traditional and alternative fuels). Following the approval of these monitoring plans by the authorities, the greenhouse gases permits for the respec-tive installations were issued, stipulating the monitoring and reporting methods for these emissions.

In 2007, greenhouse gases reduction limits were imposed on the Romanian Government through the Allocation Plan. The decision was contested by the Romanian Gov-ernment, but applied by law at the beginning of 2008, up to the level of installations. This led to Holcim Romania having to purchase emissions certificates in 2007 in order to be compliant with the new emissions allocation quota.

The revision of the internal strategy in order to be com-pliant with the new allocated quota by The National Allo-cation Plan for 2008 – 2012, mainly by increasing the use of alternative fuels derived from wastes (including those with biomass content), the development of cement types with a reduced clinker content, and the import of clinker has led to an improvement of this situation in 2008.

However, a supplementary uncertainty in being compli-ant with the new allocation quota for greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 – 2012, appeared because of the facility production extension (implicitly, of clinker production) at Cement Campulung and the delay in the issuing of the national law referring to the allocation methodology of the “New entries reserve” created for this purpose in the National Allocation Plan. We hope that the situation will adjust in the first half of 2010.

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Management and rehabilitation of quarriesMost of the raw materials used in cement production are produced in the 10 active quarries around Alesd, Campulung and Turda plants. The mining of limestone, clay, gypsum and sand not only has an impact on the local landscape and environment, but may also cause problems to local communities. Holcim maintains on an active dialogue with affected communities in order to minimize negative aspects and also to consider the wishes and opinions of the local population. In this respect, Holcim Romania started a rehabilitation plan of all operational quarries, as an essential element of the overall plan for the complete exploitation phase of these quarry sites. Thus, we ensure the reintegration of the exploited areas within the natural circuit, taking into account the options of all stakeholders involved and ensuring the functioning of the local ecosystem and biodiversity. This rehabilitation project, which has a permanent character, involves:• The development of mining exploitation plans for each

quarry during their lifespan• Rehabilitation solutions, commonly established with

the help of specialists in this domain (“Babes – Bolyai” University from Cluj – Napoca, The Faculty of Environ-mental Science)

• The rescheduling of rehabilitation activities overlapping with the development stages of the quarry

• The construction of drainage systems within these quarries

• The designing of access roads or connection roads, which avoid the local communities


WaterHolcim is aware of the important role of water in nature and is concentrating its efforts to reduce water consump-tion, thus contributing to the conservation of natural resources. To achieve this aim, the following efforts are undertaken: • modernization of waste water treatment plants for domestic and industrial use; • modernization of water recycling units; • rehabilitation of old drinking and industrial water supply systems, for reducing the losses from the system; • reduction of water used in the production process; • maintaining used water quality parameters in accor-dance with legal standards and regulations.


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tation vehicle or forklifts attached to the semi-trailer. Both options are created to offer support to our clients, eliminating the unwanted health effects of the personnel that handle the bags in our clients’ warehouses.

Waste selective collectionA system of selective collection for internally generated waste was introduced in 2004 in all Holcim Romania locations in order to optimize waste management and to improve waste recycling and energy recovery potential. Specific training sessions, educational programs and mo-tivational campaigns are run periodically for implement-ing optimal waste management.

TransportOur truck fleet in Bucharest is equipped with a vehicles monitoring system. Through the use of the GPS based system, we are able to optimize routes and to improve logistical coordination, thereby reducing fuel consump-tion, and implicitly, the resulting polluting emissions. Furthermore, the emissions of Holcim Romania trucks are monitored regularly, thus assuring that all our trucks run below legally allowed emission values.

For the purpose of increasing the safety of the drivers transporting Holcim Romania products, starting in 2004, preventative driving courses were initiated. These classes, run by external collaborators, were extended in 2005 to the drivers of our subcontractors, our intention being to offer this facility to our clients that are transporting our products with their own means of transportation. For the first time in Romania, in order to increase the safety, our vehicles were equipped in 2005 with their own manipula-tion systems for palletized cement bags. The manipula-tion systems are either cranes installed on the transpor-

Social responsibility

„Respect yourself and others will respect you.” Confucius


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Our most important resource is peopleWe care about future generations. At the same time, we invest in our own team, being aware of the fact that the success of Holcim is due to its people.

Business conduct Employment practicesDue to the expertise of its qualified and enthusiastic staff, Holcim Romania is acknowledged as a valued and trusted partner. We continuously stimulate our employees by providing the resources to fully realize their potential through professional development within an “involving” learning environment and by providing opportunities to learn new skills and to grow within the Group. For certain positions within the company, Holcim Romania offers equal chances of employment to young graduates demonstrating passion for the profession they have selected, that own a real development potential, and last but not least, believe in the company’s values: Strength, Performance, Passion.

The total amount invested in 2008 in training and development activities of our personnel had a value of approximately EUR 934.000, 10% more than in 2007. Every employee benefited from an individual training and development plan, participating in programs that met the real needs required by his/her position, as well as from a personal development perspective. There were continued investments in programs regarding certification / qualification and the development of professional competences (technical specialized courses), environmental protection, health and labor safety, quality insurance, as well as in programs regarding developing personal and social competencies.

Programs such as developing computer skills, foreign languages, interpersonal communication, time management, complex leadership and managerial abilities training, as well as other new training programs addressing specific competencies, such as client orientation and personal management, continued in 2008. The program dedicated to the development of leadership abilities, initiated in 2006, successfully concluded in 2008, having as participants all employees in managerial functions, as well as employees occupying key-positions.

Most of the training and development programs were organized with external trainers and consultants, but internal programs run by Holcim certificated trainers also continued. While the programs regarding environmental protection, occupational health and safety or ensuring quality represent an “outward facing” social

The challenge of business today is to balance economic growth with environmental performance and social responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is one of the major issues in this decade. For Holcim, acting in a socially responsible manner is more than a collection of discrete practices and occasional gestures or initiatives motivated by marketing or public relations. For Holcim, CSR is a comprehensive set of practices and programs integrated into our business operations and decision-making processes.

Holcim Romania is aware of its social responsibilities and runs various programs to the benefit of the communities situated around its plants. Holcim Romania is committed to providing healthy and safe workplaces in all its facilities, ensuring that operations do not pose a risk to our employees or to the environment by providing appropriate training, information and work systems.

We consider community involvement a high priority and we are engaged in multiple social projects and activities in the regions where we operate.

Stakeholder relationsHolcim is committed to developing and maintaining strong relationships with all our stakeholders, as an important part of our business policy.• Our mission statement outlines our aim to create value

for all our stakeholders; • Our business goals include maintaining an active

dialogue with authorities, associations, international organizations and NGOs, and being acknowledged as a valued and trusted partner;

• Our environmental and social policies commit us to engage an active dialogue with our stakeholders and to report our progress on the issues that affect them;

• Our communication policy outlines that engagement must be based on mutual trust and respect.



responsibility, the other programs, especially the ones regarding the development of individual competencies, are dedicated and personalized for our employees as an important form of “inward facing” social responsibility.

Our preoccupation regarding the organizational environment which we are building has been a focus for a number of years. The actions that have been defined following the organizational culture studies continued and in order to obtain the necessary amount of information regarding the Holcim employment practices, we joined the Central and Eastern Europe companies in the “Best Employers 2008” study. Thus, we have learned that our implication level is superior to the average and is positioned in the so-called “performance area”. Results revealed that among our strong points, there are the company’s policies, practices and reputation, training and development programs and the physical working environment. For the years to come, we commit to preserving the same performance level and improve the area of career development opportunities.

Complementarily, the periodical meetings and consultations with the trade-unions regarding the employees’ needs and problems ensures an optimum working climate.

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and Eastern Europe (53%)

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Destructive area

managers19-30 years31-40 years41-50 years51-68 years

menwomentotal employees

workerstesAtotal employees

High school studies High school and post high school speciality studiesUniversity studiesPost university studiesOther

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Personnel structure/categories

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460

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Ocupational health and safetyHolcim employees represent the foundation on which we build our future. The main value of the company is its people and this is why Holcim is committed to develop-ing a safe working environment and promoting the type of culture and attitude that best protects the health and life of its employees, contractors and visitors. 2008 was for Holcim Romania a year in which we continued to make efforts to improve the health and safety at work and develop an OH&S culture among our colleagues and contractors working on our premises.

This report gives an insight into the most important OH&S activities in 2008.

1. Expenses and investmentsAlmost EUR 1,46 million was invested in 2008 at the level of cement, aggregates and concrete plants for improv-ing occupational health and safety (OH&S). Our efforts were concentrated mainly on offering the best work and safety equipment, modernizing the safety components of the equipment, offering protection, food and hygiene products, completing medical controls and vaccination campaigns and organizing OH&S training and awareness campaigns.

2.Actions for raising awareness of the importance of occupational health and safety 2.1. Campaign for a healthy lifestyleThis year we developed a campaign dedicated to achiev-ing a healthy lifestyle, in which we presented to all employees the advantages of healthy and balanced nutri-tion, combined with regular physical activity. Accordingly, other complementary themes were approached within this campaign, such as the risks and illnesses connected to a disordered lifestyle. In some locations, we invited a medical specialist to talk to our colleagues various health-related themes. All OH&S campaigns developed in 2008 are evidence of the attention we pay to the health of our employees. The detection of breast, prostate and uterus cancer, as well as the determination of glycemia are part of this large campaign.

2.2. OH&S WeekAs in every year, in 2008 we organized an OH&S Week. During that week, in every work post, including the head office, information of general interest was offered every

day. The themes discussed were: Day 1 – “The “traps” of the home away from home”, Day 2 – “10 recommenda-tions for the safe use of mobile phones”, Day 3 – “The benefits of physical exercises”, Day 4 – “Computer addiction”, Day 5 – “Pets”. Also, during the course of this dedicated week, employees received fruit on a daily basis in order to encourage healthy nutrition.

2.3. OH&S Observations and Safety AlertsAlready implemented and regularly elaborated by all the heads of the departments and work units, OH&S observations encourage the proper development of daily activity and improve actions and procedures that are not properly executed. In 2008, these observations and safety alerts continued and, moreover, their number increased. The safety alerts have become a routine, as they have been occurring on a regular basis. Their main purpose is to report and share all incidents at regional level – not only the events with serious consequences, but also the ones with imminent consequences. The main reason for this constant reporting of every incident is that these alerts can serve as important learning that might prevent the recurrence of such events. By posting a safety alert, a one-page document which reveals the accident causes, consequences and key learning facts, we want to inform all people who are active within the Holcim area that similar accidents can be avoided if all the safety proce-dures are followed. Information means power and, in our case, the power to prevent accidents!

2.4. Meetings, occupational health and safety discussionsOccupational health and safety is one of the topics that are always present in management meetings of Holcim Romania. For the representatives of various companies that are collaborating with Holcim, monthly meetings take place, where OH&S aspects are discussed. In 2008, we have retrained all Holcim employees and third-party contractors on the Holcim cardinal rules. These refer to three of the five cardinal rules regarding organizational health and safety, isolating and locking procedures, work-ing in closed spaces.

3. Instructions3.1 NEBOSH trainingThe Nebosh (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health) training is one of the most prestigious

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trainings on occupational health and safety at interna-tional level. Organized for the first time during March – April 2007 at Alesd, the training program was resumed in 2008. This second session organized in 2008 was dedi-cated to employees from the Eastern Europe Region, who started their activity following the finalization of the first course. The participants from Holcim Romania were the new OH&S Responsible within the Logistics Department and the new OH&S Responsible from Alesd Cement.

3.2 Safe driveInitiated in 2007, an instruction program for improving safety in traffic, addressed car, truck, cement truck and concrete truck drivers. The training was finalized in 2008.


Next, the management is to analyze the performance reports of each driver.

3.3 Other instructionsAccording to present legislation, training at work is done regularly, various subjects being presented to the workers during a year period. The frequency of the training can be: monthly for drivers or annually for office personnel.

Visits and inspections at work posts, internal and external audits, inspections from authorities, informal working meetings are some of the training methods applied for occupational health and safety. In 2008, a first – aid con-test was organized in both cement plants and concrete and aggregates plants. The participants in this contest learned essential knowledge regarding first – aid, in case a work accident takes place. The OH&S department also organized an instruction course on handling fire extin-guishers, the main purpose being the improvement of prompt response in case of fire.

4. The OH&S directivesThe biggest challenge in 2008 was the implementation of a series of OH&S directives – fatality prevention elements (the FPE’s). For total implementation, we had four FPE directives: FPE 1 – working at height, FPE 2 – isolation and locking, FPE 3 – vehicles and safety in traffic and FPE 6 – working in closed spaces. We also partially implemented the other five directives, FPE 4 – the safety of electric sys-tems, FPE 5 – protection devices, FPR 7 – working with fire, FPE 8 – excavations and FPE 9 – heavy duty lifting devices, prioritizing the urgent actions within the directives. Next, we will work on the total implementation of the five directives mentioned above.These directives or fatality prevention elements contain health and safety requirements that have to be observed for each type of activity stipulated in the directive – work-ing at height, working in closed spaces, excavations, working with electrical systems, working with lifting devices and so on.

Each directive is structured in five directions:1. The context – the context which generated the direc-

tive 2. The intention – what the directive seeks to achieve3. The application field – where the directive is to be

applied4. The requirements of the element

4.1. The risk evaluation necessary for the identifica-tion of possible threats and the control of these threats – specific requirements

4.2 The selection, instruction and authorization – specific requirements

4.3. Communicating and awareness – specific require-ments

4.4. Designing, purchasing, production, installation and starting – specific requirements


4.5. Working and control methods – specific require-ments

4.6. Maintenance – specific requirements4.7. Emergency situations – specific requirements4.8. Monitoring, inspections and audits – specific

requirements4.9. Reporting, evaluation and corrective actions –

specific requirements 5. Dictionary

5. The TRAM ImplementationIn 2008 we managed to implement in Holcim Romania the TRAM (Total Restraint Access Module) system, which allows driver’s access on bulk cement trucks in totally secured conditions, as far as the risk of falling from height is concerned. This system can truly guarantee that our drivers are totally protected from falling from height when they need to climb on cement trucks tanks. More-over, all the 54 bulk cement trucks belonging to Holcim Romania were equipped with this system.

6. The European Road Safety CharterThe European Commission presented in April, 2004, during the meeting of the Ministries of Transport held in Dublin, an ambitious initiative regarding the reduction of

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the number of accidents. At the moment, improper driv-ing behavior produces around 50.000 accidents annually. This is why the European Road Safety Charter appeared (a project belonging to the European Commission), which supports initiatives that are and will be undertaken by the member states in order to increase road safety. The signing of The European Road Safety Charter represents

an engagement in favor of traffic security over a period of minimum three years. This term was established in order to ensure a better evaluation and analysis of the results. The target is the reduction of road accidents by 50 % until 2010. Holcim Romania and other 18 organiza-tions signed this road safety engagement in 2008. It contains 5 specific actions that have to be implemented in the next two years and can be read on the website: http://erscharter.eu.

7. Online health and safety induction In 2008, an online instruction program on organiza-tional health and safety was created. Starting 2009, this induction is followed by all Holcim Romania employees from all locations, as well as the third-party supervisors. Regarding the third-party companies contracted for long-term collaboration, the instruction is available for all of their workers.

The program can be accessed at the following link www.safety-induction.net and is structured in 15 chapters, out of which three contain a total of 25 questions which must all be answered in order to complete the induction.

At the end of the courses the participant recieves a certificate which allows him to work on Holcim premises for the one year validity of the certificate. The instruction is resumed annually for knowledge refreshment. This way we make sure that the necessary rules and working procedures are known, and that the work is carried out in safe conditions.

We can confirm that we will continue focusing our efforts on diminishing the risk of injury involved in all processes and activities and on making all Holcim employees and third-party collaborators aware on the importance of safety at work. Our vision is zero accidents, zero injuries on Holcim premises or in any other activities connected to our business.


Social responsibility is one of the most important commitments assumed by our company. Holcim Romania has developed various programs for the benefit of communities, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, sustaining the communities in the locations in which the company operates. Holcim Romania is also engaged in various projects related to medical care, education, local sport competitions, playgrounds and recreational facilities. More details at www.holcim.ro

“Let’s keep the waters clean!”Holcim Romania supported in 2008 the project “Let’s keep the waters clean!” initiated by the Administratia Nationala Apele Romane. Five hundred volunteers collected more than six hundred tons of waste from almost sixty locations. Following the ecological cleaning of these areas, 750 waste bins designed for selective collecting were installed on the course of 7140 km of water. Another component of this project was the editing of the so-called guide “Peripetiile lui Ovi” (“Ovi’s adventures”), which addresses the young generation on issues regarding responsible attitude towards environment. The main objective of the “Let’s keep the waters clean!” campaign was the achievement of environmental friendly behavior towards waters.

“Create your environment!”The project, launched in 2004 by Holcim Romania and Concept Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, aims to develop a civic behavior towards the environment within pupils in Romanian elementary and secondary schools (3rd to 7th grade). One of the most important components of the project was the elaboration of three sets of educational publications: the educational support for pupils from 3rd to 7th grades, the methodological guide for teachers, and a dictionary of specialized terms. In 2007, the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth decided to integrate the “Create your environment” project into the national curriculum, as an optional subject. It is for the first time in Romania that a private initiative has been embraced and continued by a public institution. In 2008, two hundred pupils from the 3rd to 7th grades and twenty-one teachers from twenty-one counties took part in the second edition of the “Creeaza-ti mediul!” national contest, which was

Community involvement


held in the school camp from Poiana Pinului, August 29 – September 2. Through its diversified and balanced program, which blends activities designed to coordinate teachers of the contestant teams with pupils, educational recreation and leisure activities, the “Creeaza-ti mediul!” national contest is even more enjoyable now for the people who have opted for its study in the 2007-2008 school year.


“Build your future”Holcim Romania and Corporate Dynamics International launched in 2008 the 4th edition of the “Build your future” educational program. Personal development seminars dedicated to one hundred students from the 11th grade took place between April 21-25 and June 9-14 in Alesd Campulung and Turda. The seminars included themes like awareness and motivation, debated on visions of the future and introduced participants to different models of inspiration regarding professional and personal success.

Apprenticeship School for Cement Industry Technicians The Apprenticeship School for Cement Industry Technicians was founded by Holcim Romania in 2004 in Alesd. The 15 students benefit from a two-year theoretical and practical apprenticeship program, and one-year practical training in a specific field: mechanical, electrical, manufacturing or laboratory. At the end of the program, the students receive a graduation diploma recognized by the Ministry of Education and Research and have the possibility to work within Holcim Romania.

In 2008, the third generation of students started the courses, all of these students having been recruited from localities situated near our three plants. Presently, young graduates from the first promotion work within Holcim Romania – 8 in Cement Alesd, 1 in the ecolavor plant in Alesd, 1 in Cement Campulung, 1 in Holcim (Hungary) and the second generation is in its third year of training until July, 2009.

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Household waste management in the Apuseni Natural ParkHolcim Romania and GTZ (German Agency for Technical Collaboration) joined together in a private – public partnership to run the project for household waste management in the Apuseni Natural Park. The project, which lasted for two years, developed in two distinct phases and had as a primary objective the raising of awareness on efficient methods of waste management in rural areas. The first phase addressed the population and consisted of installing informative panels and picnic equipment (tables, benches, garbage bins) in twelve locations with high tourism potential in the Apuseni area.The second phase consisted of drawing up a strategy regarding household waste management in the area of Apuseni Mountains, which provides the local authorities with practical solutions and ideas for proper and efficient waste management in rural areas. When the project finalized, a seminar was organized on December, 12th at Cluj Napoca, which gave the participants the opportunity to create partnerships and find solutions for efficient waste management. Among the participants were representatives of local and central authorities, the village halls of the villages involved in this project, non – governmental organizations, as well as representatives of the companies that supply sanitation and waste co-processing services.The active involvement of the participants in both the project and the seminar, demonstrated the achievement of the initial objective, namely, supplying solutions for the proper waste management in the rural areas.


Open Doors Days Events in cement plantsThe Open Doors Day events in the cement plants of Holcim Romania are part of the open dialogue and transparent communication of the company with all stakeholders.

The participants at these events are representatives of local communities, authorities, representatives of media and of nongovernmental organizations, as well as business partners.

In 2008, the fourth event took place in Alesd, where, in partnership with ecovalor, the new pre-treatment installations (belonging to ecovalor) designed for the co-processing of the solid wastes, as well as the transport, dosing and feeding installations (belonging to Holcim) were inaugurated.


“We care” contest The “We care” contest has already become a tradition among the social responsibility projects organized by Holcim Romania. The competition was initiated in 2002 with the objective of demonstrating the capacity of youngsters to identify environmental problems and suggest solutions.


Global Holcim AwardsAlmost 5000 projects from 90 countries quali-fied in the second edition of the Holcim Awards global competition, which encourages and sustains initiatives that combine solutions for sustainable construction with architectural quality and improvement of life quality, by giving sustainable answers to technological, environmental, socio-economical and cultural is-sues that influence the construction field. At the end of 2008, 15 finalists were nominated from the five regions, and automatically entered the global competition.

Holcim Awards (www.holcimawards.org) ad-dresses all those involved in the field of architec-ture and construction – architects, construction engineers, designers, town-planners, but it is equally open to students studying these subjects. The competition, which develops at regional and global level, can bring the winners awards valu-ing USD 2 million. The financial rewards for each of the five regions involved in the competition (Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa – Middle East, Asia – Pacific) are valued at USD 270.000 per region, whereas the global phase offers awards which total USD 650.000.

In Romania, a series of events were organized in order to sustain the global Holcim Awards com-petition, one of them being the training camp at The Center for Vernacular Architecture Studies in Dealu Frumos, as well as a series of seminars held in the universities of Timisoara, Oradea, Cluj and Iasi.

Holcim awards 2008

Gold and silver at the national work contest organized by CIROM, the Association of the Cement Producers, for the employees in the ce-ment industryHolcim Romania occupied the first position in the “OH&S” and “operators” sections and the second in the “mechanics” section. The competi-tion addresses all the employees in Romania working in the cement industry.

Holcim Romania, awarded by CONPIROMThe top of the industry players 2008 brought Holcim Romania the award for “Extraordinary Results Obtained in 2008”. The event was organized by CONPIROM, The Patronal Confederation in the Romanian Industry, in order to award “Romanian industries in their struggle for competitiveness and prosperity in the European Union”.

Markus Wirth, the personality of the year for a European RomaniaThe “EUROLINK – Casa Europei” Foundation nominated the CEO of Holcim Romania, Markus Wirth as “the personality of the year for a European Romania”.Within a gala ceremony, EUROLINK – Casa Europei Foundation rewarded the most remarkable efforts made by personalities from Europe and Romania in order to bring Romanian society close to the European standards and values.

“Let’s keep the waters clean” project, winner at Green Awards 2008The project developed by Administratia Nationala Apele Romane, in partnership with Holcim Romania won the prize for “Best Green International Campaign”. Green Awards is a competition that appreciates and rewards the creativity of those who communicate on matters like CSR and sustainable development.

The integrated management system of Holcim Romania, awarded by TUV RHEINLANDHolcim Romania recieved an award from TUV RHEINLAND ROMANIA for „maintaining performance in the management system: 1998 0 2008” with the “Excellence Diploma”. The distinction was awarded during the national conference of TUV RHEINLAND ROMANIA, as recognition of the constant preoccupation of delivering products and services that comply with the standards and maturity of the management system of Holcim Romania.

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