| External Communication, February 16, 2009 |
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• Holcim Apasco is the only cement group saluted by CEMEFI for nine years in a row.
• In 2008, the company invested around 80 million pesos in projects related to social responsibility.
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Mexico City, February 16, 2009 – Holcim Apasco received notice from the Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía (Mexican Center for Philanthropy or CEMEFI), that it had earned once again a Socially Responsible Corporation (ESR) award, thus becoming the first-ever company to get it for nine years in a row. In 2008, the company invested around 80 million pesos in social-responsibility actions.
One of the indicators evaluated by the CEMEFI to present such award is “the quality of life in the company.” In this area, Holcim Apasco has in place programs and benefits that foster the personal and professional development of its workers and associates, such as the Holcim Apasco Leaders Program, development seminars for mid-tier managers, training courses for commercial executives, international exchange programs, training for mixer-truck operators, and support for open education through the National Institute for Adult Education (INEA), plus several other benefits.
Occupational Health and Safety activities are also considered for the ESR award. This matter is maximum priority for Holcim Apasco, and thus it strives to achieve a zero-accident goal by fostering safe work environments.
As regards social responsibility towards the community, the cement group runs Farming and Forest Utilization Training Centers (CECAF in Spanish), created in 1986 and which, to this date, have benefitted mode than 20,000 living in communities around Holcim-Apasco plants. Other efforts include DesarrollaT, a program seeking to support the management of small businesses which has contributed to preserve about 10,000 jobs, and Mi Casa, a program for distributors that market Holcim Apasco products whose goal is to train do-it-yourselfers to build their homes better, and offer funding for the purchase of cement and other construction supplies. Since 2000, Mi Casa has been instrumental in the building of more than a quarter million homes nationwide.Another key criterion was Holcim Apasco’s efforts to operate in full respect of the environment.
Some of the most relevant are the reduction of its CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, tangible decreases in energy consumption by its cement plants, remediation of quarries, and the protection of endangered plant and animal species. Eduardo Kretschmer, Director-General (CEO) of the company, stated that “Holcim Apasco’s performance is closely linked to being a competitive corporation, respectful of the environment and socially responsible. Such are the core principles around which we have built our priorities.”The Socially Responsible Corporation (ESR) award is presented annually by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, a non-governmental organization focused on providing tools that enable corporations to monitor their social-responsibility efforts.
For further information about Holcim and Holcim Apasco´s social responsibility programs, please visit
www.holcimapasco.com.mx
www.holcim.com
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Holcim Apasco produces and markets cement, mortar, premixed concrete and other products and services for the construction industry. The company has nationwide presence through 6 cement plans with a rated production capacity of 11.3 million metric tons per year, more then 100 ready-mix concrete plants, 5 aggregates plants, 23 cement distribution centers, 2 marine terminals and a Concrete Technology Center.Holcim Apasco is a member of the Swiss group Holcim, a world leader in cement, aggregates (gravel and sand), ready-mix concrete other services and products for the construction industry. The Group has controlling and minority share in operations in over 70 countries in every continent.
Contact:Verónica Díez
Tel: (55) 57 24 00 00 ext. 1378
veronica.diez@holcimapasco.com.mx
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