Cement firm Holcim Philippines Inc. on Monday launched a product which has more than 30 percent lower carbon footprint than other general purpose cement.
The company said its ECOPlanet is a global range of green cement developed by the Holcim Group.
Its Philippine unit will offer the product as a general purpose blended cement ideal for structural applications that “delivers equal to superior construction performance while lowering the carbon footprint of buildings.”
This product will be available in 40-kilogram bags in paper and plastic bags. The Philippines will be among the first markets where this product line is available.
The company said its lower environmental footprint and equal to superior performance are driven by the addition of blast furnace slag, a by-product of iron ore smelting to produce pig iron for steel making. Adding slag lowers the clinker content and carbon footprint of cement while enhancing the durability and long-term strength of concrete.
Holcim Philippines will aim for an Environmental Product Declaration for ECOPlanet in the next few months to be independently verified by a third-party reviewer. In addition, the company will launch a program to collect its used plastic bags for recycling by an accredited facility to support the company’s sustainability commitments.
“Winning with purpose requires delivering our customer promise while also caring for the planet. We see a growing interest in building greener structures in the Philippines,” said Holcim Philippines President and CEO Horia Adrian.
“ECOPlanet enables us to provide our partners with the best balance of delivering strength and durability while helping make construction more respectful of the environment. It is another key step in our promise to build greener, smarter, and for all in the Philippines.”
The launch of the product is part of the company’s stronger focus on sustainability and innovation to raise business performance and increase positive social and environmental impact.
The company recorded a net profit P2.29 billion in January to September, more than double last year’s P1.02 billion.
Net sales rose 7 percent to P20.14 billion from last year’s P18.77 billion due to the recovery of the market as seen in the improved demand for construction materials which was felt by its cement, aggregates and dry mix businesses.