The approach

Lafarge develops and implements solutions to promote efficient sustainable construction and explores every potential means of:

• economizing energy consumption,
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
• while keeping the costs of construction as low as possible,
• and improving structures' other environmental and social footprints as much as possible.

The Group works in partnership with various players in the sector (architects, engineers, contractors...) on complete solutions and systems to improve the performance of constructions at every stage in their lifecycle.

Through EFFICIENT BUILDING™, the Group informs its public about its commitments and its initiatives and the results of its actions in the field of new construction trends.

Lafarge bases its approach on the life cycle analysis (LCA) method in order to better respond to markets' requirements in terms of the performance of buildings and structures. This objective scientific analysis quantifies the environmental footprint of an object (product, building...) according to several criteria, including emissions of greenhouse gases, air pollution, water consumption, transport... that the object will have generated throughout its life. This method has enabled Lafarge to emphasize the excellent environmental properties of its concretes.

Lafarge seeks to enhance structures from their design stage. It works with designers, architects, engineering offices and construction companies, and, in the early stages of projects, proposes solutions to improve various aspects of the constructions' performance.

The Group has acquired expertise through partnerships and working groups which have enabled it to develop ever more efficient solutions. It is an active member of SBAlliance, EEB in Action, the WBCSD's Cement Sustainability Initiative, the Fondation Bâtiment Energie, etc. and has carried out research with architects and engineering offices including Marc Mimram, Jacques Ferrier etc.