Sustainable Development

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was created in 1997 for measuring the economic, environmental and social performance of companies. The GRI is working closely with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to develop an international standard for sustainable development.

The 2008 report was developed using the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (G3). Based on this GRI grading system, the 2008 report has received an A+ grading - evidence of the quality and performance of the Group in this area.

Created in 2005 by Corporate Knights et Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations" project showcases the international companies which are the most committed to sustainable development.
Since 2005, for 6 years running, Lafarge has been ranked among the 100 most responsible companies.

Every year, social and environmental rating agencies compare Lafarge's sustainable development performance to that of other players in the sector:

• Evaluation by FTSE4Good:
  • Since 2003, Lafarge has been a member of the FTSE4Good Index that gathers companies whose environmental and social risks are integrated to their policies and management systems.
  • The Environmental Leaders Europe 40 Index is designed to identify European companies with leading environmental practices and that are doing more to manage their environmental risks and impacts whilst reducing their environmental footprint. Lafarge is the only cement company included in the index.
    
    

• Evaluation by Innovest: in its Intangible Value Assessment Innovest gives Lafarge a AAA rating. The Group's sustainability strategy and environmental, social and governance initiatives would enable it to obtain opportunities both in the short and long-term.

• Evaluation by Euromoney et Ernst & Young: every year the companies, which are the most committed to renewable energies are recognized during the Global Renewable Energy Awards. In 2009, Lafarge was awarded in the category "Climate Change Investment Program of the Year".

• Evaluation by SAM (Sustainability Asset Management, a DJSI Index): in 2007 Lafarge was not placed in either the DJSI STOXX or the DJSI World Index. In 2008 we improved our overall score by 6 points to achieve 70%. This led to us being restored to the STOXX index. We were not inclued this year in the DJSI World Index owing to the methodology used.

• Evaluation by Vigeo: Vigeo rates Lafarge as achieving very positive results in the domains of business behaviour, community involvement, environment, human resources and human rights. According to Vigeo, progress still has to be made in governance.

• Evaluation by Storebrand: Lafarge is 1 of 5 companies judged best in class in Storebrand's analysis of the construction materials sector. Lafarge is the most highly rated company in the social ratings aspect of the analysis for instance.

• Lafarge signed the United Nations Global Compact in 2003. The Global Compact is intended to extend the benefits of globalization to the entire planet. 

• The ISO 14001 standard: since 1996, this standard has been used to certify environmental practices and Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Lafarge is encouraging the establishment of an EMS and, where appropriate, ISO 14001 certification of its sites.

• Lafarge internet site lafarge.com has been recognized by the Swedish communication agency Hallvarsson & Halvarsson for the 2nd year running first French company website. The study also underlines the willingness of the Group to be transparent in its sustainable development communication.
  
  
• The website Lafarge.com has been recognized for its accessibility, earning it a "Silver" rating under the French Accessiweb label and an A grade from the European label, Euracert. The Lafarge website is the first CAC 40 company website to receive these labels.