This context has prompted Holcim to accelerate its transformation to be part of the solution and implement strategies that will enable it to become a carbon neutral or Net Zero company, while developing solutions and products that promote sustainable construction in El Salvador and in the more than 60 countries where it operates.

To do so, the company has implemented a decarbonization scheme ranging from more sustainable operations to the decarbonization of cities, where circularity plays an important role. Holcim is moving from a linear economy to a circular one that allows it to take advantage of resources to incorporate them back into production processes, thus preserving virgin material resources. "We are building more with less, incorporating recycled materials into our production processes, giving them a second life in order to use only what is necessary and thus contribute to preserving our planet", says Rodrigo Gallardo, CEO of Holcim El Salvador.

PROGRESS AT HOLCIM EL SALVADOR

The company has ambitious plans to achieve its decarbonization goals, in which it is already reporting significant progress:

Innovation in operation

At least nine decarbonization projects are currently underway, including increasing the co-processing capacity of Geocycle, the leading company in circular waste management solutions that seeks to replace petroleum-based fuels in the production process with alternative energies from industrial and municipal waste. Similarly, thanks to an alliance with AES El Salvador, Holcim will soon be using renewable energies to cover 21% of the energy required for cement production at one of its plants, which will enable it to stop consuming 43,000 barrels of fuel oil annually, equivalent to 1.7 million gallons of fuel. The implementation of electric vehicles in operations is also underway, with the first electric truck scheduled to arrive at Planta El Ronco before the end of 2023, replacing the annual consumption of 210,000 liters of diesel and avoiding the emission of 560 tons of CO₂ per year.

High-level technology

The company has committed to state-of-the-art technology as a pillar to transform the industry. From a Technology Research Center to remote operations, Holcim is leading the way in efficiency and sustainability. The use of drones for relocations and inspections, 3D printing for industrial spare parts and the use of predictive technologies are other examples that not only contribute to decarbonization but also generate resource efficiencies.

Sustainable building solutions

Architects, designers and builders require solutions that enable them to be more sustainable and adapt to the demands of their customers who are increasingly aware of the need to care for natural resources. In this regard, since 2021 Holcim El Salvador has offered the market a varied portfolio of environmentally friendly construction solutions, through which it promotes sustainable construction in the country. These innovative solutions provide sustainability benefits also to builders, who by choosing Holcim, can offer added value in their projects and more easily opt for sustainable construction certifications.

Among these solutions are: the ECOPlanet range of cements that includes Fuerte, Maestro and Multibase cements with CO₂ reductions from 35 to 45% versus conventional cements, ECOPact concretes, the only sustainable concrete whose CO₂ reduction ranges from 30 and can reach up to 100%; I-DRACRETO, an innovative technology that reduces cracking in concrete by up to 90%, in addition to promoting resource conservation and reducing the carbon footprint associated with the curing process, permeable concrete that allows water infiltration into aquifers, and as a recent novelty, ECOPact + concrete that contains recycled aggregates from construction and demolition materials, promoting true circularity in construction processes.

"At Holcim we are building progress for people and the planet with the vision of making sustainable construction available to all, and we are achieving this through innovation, decarbonization and the use of environmentally friendly materials. The future of construction in El Salvador is being transformed, and at Holcim El Salvador, we are proud to be leading the way, as we have done for the past 74 years", concluded Rodrigo Gallardo.

Translated by: A.M