Holcim

• Holcim’s Integrated Annual Report covers its dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities for nature. The company’s sustainability approach is based on four key pillars: climate, circularity, nature and people. The most material nature-related impacts and dependencies are water use, land use (including biodiversity), solid waste, circular economy, quarry rehabilitation and greenhouse gas emissions.​
• Holcim is committed to regularly conducting a materiality assessment and is looking to update the materiality assessment process in 2024 to ensure full alignment with stakeholder priorities and upcoming regulation such as CSRD.

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• Based on the results of its materiality assessment and prioritization process, commitments have been made on the key material issues identified: water use, land use including biodiversity, solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions.​

On water use, here are some example targets:​

• By 2030, Holcim will reduce specific freshwater withdrawals by 33% compared to a 2018 baseline. ​
• By 2025, Holcim will recycle 10 million tons of construction demolition materials into high-value products. ​
  3. By 2030, Holcim commit to increase recycled content in its cement to 30%.​

Holcim was selected by the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) to pilot the world’s first science-based targets for nature and is the only company in its sector.

• Holcim is taking actions to address its material issues identified:​
• For example, Holcim’s quarries that have been assessed using Biodiversity Indicator Reporting System (BIRS) and those with rehabilitation plans in place are aligned with the Holcim Directive on Quarry Rehabilitation and Biodiversity. The key requirements go far beyond legal compliance and include measures respecting the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimize, restore and offset) and a biodiversity management plan for sites assessed as of high biodiversity value.
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• On water use, concrete actions in Holcim’s operations to help achieve its commitments on water use include: improving water use efficiency and reducing pollution, shift to non-freshwater withdrawals, maximize rainwater harvesting and provide water, sanitation and hygiene for all employees.​
• For example: Holcim is prioritizing actions in high water-risk areas (based on WRI Aqueduct tool) and tailoring solutions to local conditions.

• The Executive Committee is responsible for the execution of the sustainability including climate and nature strategies.​
• The Board of Directors holds the ultimate responsibility for strategy and overall governance of the company, including Holcim’s climate strategy.  The Board of Directors oversees Holcim’s risk management and Internal Control Process, including sustainability, climate and nature-related risks and opportunities.​
• Holcim embeds nature within its corporate governance, including with guidance from the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). ​
• For example, long-term incentives for executive leaders are increasingly linked to environmental sustainability, with compensation tied to meeting nature-related goals such as reducing carbon emissions, improving biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable resource use.