Building materials provider CEMEX has set a CO2 reduction target for its European operations of at least 55% by 2030.
CEMEX says the target aligns with the recent commitment on CO2 from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in her landmark State of the Union address.
CEMEX expects its European operations to reach the target of a 35% reduction in carbon emissions from cementitious materials by the end of 2020, a decade ahead of CEMEX’s 2030 global commitment outlined in its Climate Action strategy announced in February of this year.
The company says it is “perfectly positioned” in Europe to lead the construction materials sector in cutting emissions following many years of diligent carbon reduction and alignment with EU regulations and environmental policies. CEMEX claims to have driven the conversion away from fossil fuels to alternative fuel sources in its factories, with substitution rates now at 60% – which the company says is significantly higher than the European average of around 40%.
The company has launched its Vertua carbon-neutral concrete in the United Kingdom and France, and it will be gradually available in other countries where CEMEX operates.
“We welcome the clarification from the European Commission president and are proud to be the first building materials company to align with the commitment,” said CEMEX CEO Fernando Gonzalez.
“Our European business operates in an environment that has driven continuous improvement, and as a result, by the end of this year, we expect to have reduced our carbon emissions by 35% compared to the 1990 baseline.”
