Lafarge renews green teaching plan

Lafarge has announced that it is to renew its agreement with Ecole des Ponts ParisTech for the Materials Science for Sustainable Construction (SMCD) teaching and research chair for five years. This news comes at the same time as the Lafarge Research Centre and the Laboratoire Navier (a combined research unit of Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, IFSTTAR and CNRS) have announced they have signed a new framework research contract.

Under the SMCD programme, the two organisations will promote research and innovation in the field of building materials in order to improve the environmental footprint of constructions. For the past five years, the SMCD Chair has supported a Master's course focusing on the environmental footprint of materials. Students benefit from an interdisciplinary program unique in the world, drawing on the expertise of professors from the Ecole des Ponts ParisTech and Lafarge engineers and researchers.

Lafarge has said that its collaboration with the Laboratoire Navier will contribute to research into the implementation properties, mechanical performance and durability of new concretes developed by Lafarge for low carbon construction. The company said that this type of partnership brings additional scientific expertise to enhance Lafarge's research program and accelerate innovation in construction.