Studies estimate that the cement industry is responsible for 5% of global man-made CO2 emissions. Managing and reducing these emissions is therefore a key priority for St. Lawrence Cement. Our CO2 emissions come from the following sources:
- chemical process of making clinker (50%)
- combustion of fossil fuels in the kiln (40%)
- indirect emissions from purchased electrical power (5%)
- transport (5%)
Reducing CO2 emissions is key to St. Lawrence Cement and is consistent with its parent company, Holcim Ltd, commitment to sustainable development. St. Lawrence Cement has committed to reduce its specific net CO2 emissions (kg net CO2/tonne of cementitious product) by 15% by 2010, with 2000 as the reference year by improving energy efficiency and using mineral components such as GranCem®, fly ash, and silica fume as cement and clinker substitutes.In 2003, St. Lawrence Cement achieved ‘’Champion’’ status with a Gold-level score from Canada’s Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Program (VCR) which promotes greater accountability for greenhouse gas emissions.
St. Lawrence Cement is also a member of the US EPA Climate Leaders program. This voluntary industry-government partnership encourages companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies by setting an aggressive corporate-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.
