Natural resources

Produced as part of the Lafarge-WWF partnership, this document aims to facilitate the protection, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity across all Lafarge sites worldwide (including quarries, plants and offices). It features recommendations on how to identify the biodiversity goals and achieve them, as well as case studies and best practices from Lafarge sites.

Lafarge has established a comprehensive biodiversity management system in partnership with the WWF:

• a specific methodology,
• tools to evaluate the challenges of the site,
• programs to maintain and improve biodiversity.

The objective is to work with local experts and environmental associations to establish biodiversity programs for all sites located in a sensitive area or presenting real potential for wildlife.

Lafarge works closely with specialists to expand its understanding of biodiversity:

• A panel of experts and stakeholders is consulted in all biodiversity matters. This panel was created in 2006 to advise the Group on its biodiversity strategy. Entirely independent, this group has 10 members and meets twice a year to present its opinions and recommendations.
• International experts: the indicators developed with WWF have been reviewed and have inspired key perfomance indicators for the CSI (Cement Sustainability Initiative).
• Local experts such as:
  • the "Museum d'Histoire naturelle" (France) and English Nature (United Kingdom) lend their expertise during the creation of natural habitats on rehabilitated sites,
  • the Wildlife Habitat Council (United States) has recognized the attention to biodiversity shown in the Group's industrial approach by certifying 74 of its Cement and Aggregates sites.

In partnership with WWF, Lafarge has developed a biodiversity index to monitor and manage the ecological development of the Group's sites and quarries.

Objectives:

• identify risks and opportunities with WWF and other nature conservation organizations,
• communicate with stakeholders, employees and other partners interested in the management of biological diversity,
• participate in research, information and training programs,
• develop the biodiversity of the site whenever possible.

Before opening a new quarry, Lafarge:

• develops dialog with local residents, associations and experts to identify the best location for quarrying,
• performs an environmental impact study which pays close attention to biodiversity at each stage of the quarry's life (from extraction to rehabilitation).

The quarry rehabilitation policy has been developed in partnership with WWF since 2001. It is designed to limit the traces of extraction and bring life back to the area. For example, a quarry could be transformed into a nature reserve or a leisure zone.

At the end of 2011, 97.2% of the Group's active quarries were screened according to criteria validated by WWF, and 86.4% of them had a rehabilitation plan. It should be pointed out that a rate of 100% is not feasible on a permanent basis because of the ongoing acquisition of new quarries and the complexity of the process.

With the renewal of its WWF partnership in 2009, Lafarge integrated water in its 5 main commitments. The aim was to develop a better understanding of its water consumption to better reduce it.

Through the partnership, Lafarge:

• maps sites located in areas of water scarcity and measures their water footprint,
• reduces its water consumption,
• preserves fragile wetlands,
• recycles water by collecting washing and cooling water.

In 2009, pilot projects have been set in order to assess their water footprint:

• in Medgidia in Romania for Cement;
• in Almenara in Spain and Gravel in Morroco for Aggregates;
• in 3 concrete-batching plants near Cairo in Egypt.

Some of them have identified practices to reduce their water consumption, such as rain water collection, washing without water and condensing steam in stacks.

Actions continued in 2011: for cement, three sites in the Philippines located in areas of water stress have joined the pilot program. The program was also expanded for deployment to aggregate quarries. 94 quarries have been identified as areas of stress or high stress, or 15% of aggregate quarries. Of these 94 quarries, in 2011, 36 quarries worked within our program for the development of a water action plan. The program for all sites will be completed in 2012-2013.

In 2012, Lafarge completed the assessment of all its cement plants and aggregates quarries using WWF's Water Risk Filter, which not only takes into account access to water, but also the range of ‘physical' risks (such as water quality or the impact on biodiversity), regulatory pressure and risks linked to negative reputation.