Sustainable Development

Each of our employees shares the values of humanism and sustainable development defined by the Group. The Lafarge Way is designed to:

• define common rules which apply to everyone,
• develop the skills of every person,
• encourage a spirit of initiative,
• motivate teams.

The Lafarge Way leverages a variety of practices, tools and shared key performance indicators to achieve these goals.

Lafarge's operations are local because the raw materials are extracted locally and the products, which are bulky and difficult to transport over long distances, are manufactured on-site.

To ensure its products are always perfectly suited to the needs of local markets, Lafarge:

• encourages local initiative through effective delegation of responsibilities,
• shares its experience and best practices,
• encourages dialog between local teams and Business Unit managers.

Lafarge works closely with local populations to promote environmental, economic and social development around its sites.

The Group acts at 2 different levels:

• at a global level, Lafarge develops partnerships to exchange opinions and expertise, establish a framework of local projects and improve the Group's performance. Lafarge has partnerships with:
  • WWF, the global conservation organization, for environmental and biodiversity protection,
  • Habitat for Humanity, to construct housing for low-income populations,
  • Care, an organization involved in the fight against H.I.V./Aids.
  
  

• at a local level, the Group initiates programs with local NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) and implements practical solutions to meet the needs of communities, for example by financing dispensaries in Indonesia or India, an anti-malaria program in Malawi, or computer literacy courses for young women in India.

Lafarge seeks to intensify local economic development and participate in community activities wherever it operates.