Progreso is a leading regional cement and construction materials group with operations in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Belize, and Colombia. The 2021 sustainability report focuses on Cementos Progreso's Cement and building materials operations and reports on the operations of its six main businesses in Guatemala.
“Cementando el Futuro”, was again conducted based on the standards established by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) which represents the highest international standards in sustainability for any company in the world.
Progreso's CEO, José Raúl González, commented, "In 2021, we achieved our best operating and financial results for many years. We made progress in our regional expansion strategy. We reduced some of our critical environmental indicators for the third consecutive year.
We had no outages at any of our plants as a result of the strength of our social license to operate. Our community support programs and relationships with priority stakeholders remained active, despite the mobility restrictions.
José Miguel Torrebiarte, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said: "Cementando el Futuro is, without a doubt, a demonstration of our commitment to sustainable development; a vital instrument for generating value for each of our customers, employees and other stakeholders. We know that the challenges ahead are great". Consolidating our projects and good practices in the region, generating a culture of exceptional work, service and solidarity, with unwavering values, are our priority". He said:
"Our sustainability strategy will be vital to achieve the goals outlined and, today more than ever, to be that Preferred Employer, Responsible Citizen, Environmental Leader and Favorite Supplier; pillars that support all our actions and our dreams".
Cementos Progreso had excellent performance indicators in the social, economic, production and environmental areas during 2021. An example of this was its community investment, which amounted to US$1.6 million. The company also increased employment by 49%.
Cement production in 2021 increased by 24%, reaching a market share of 15.2% in Panama and 51% in Belize. In terms of the environment, the company recycled 20.1% of its waste and generated 77.5% of its electricity from renewable sources.
The company maintains a commitment to sustainability with its transcendent purpose of "Building together the country where we want to live", in its aspiration for regional leadership in the cement and construction materials industry, while creating and distributing value to all stakeholders.
This report has undergone two external and independent verifications: by the Centro para la Acción de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (CentraRSE), in partnership with the Fundación Hondureña de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (Fundahrse) and an external auditing firm.