CLIMATE PROTECTION

Climate protection is one of the greatest priorities for CSI signatories. Votorantim Cimentos set itself the target of achieving a 10 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2012 comparing to 1990. By 2010, this rate was already 16,0 percent.

Currently, the process of cement production accounts for 5% of total emissions of carbon dioxide emitted by human action. Thus, climate protection is a top priority for the CSI and its signatories.

Half of these emissions come from the process for obtaining the clinker (main product of the cement), 40% come from burning fuels and the remaining 10% are the result of electricity use and transportation of final product. Therefore, it´s necessary to register that the use of clean, modern and optimized plants and the search for energy efficiency are key factors in reducing the impacts of climate change.

When the Agenda for Action was drafted in 2002, the signatory companies agreed to create a CSI CO2 Protocol. This document contains guidelines to calculate and make public the emissions of each company, and develop a mitigation strategy with individual actions for the emissions that cause climate change process.

Commitments individually assumed by CSI companies...

• Use the CO₂ Protocol as a tool for monitoring and reporting baseline emissions;
• Develop a mitigation strategy to counter the process of climate change;
• Publish targets and progress by 2006;
• Annually report CO2 emissions in accordance with the Protocol;

... And the results obtained by Votorantim Cimentos

• The tool for calculating CO₂ emissions has been implemented in all plants of VC (cement and grinding plants in Brazil, USA and Canada) for which data are validated annually by external audits;
• The VC performs the strategic management of their carbon emissions. Many projects were implemented: increasing content of additives in cement, increasing use of biomass in the plants, replacing fuel oil by natural gas;
• The company assumed as target to reduce by 10% the specific emission of CO₂ comparing the base year 1990 to the year 2012. However, the target has been exceeded, registrating the reduction of 16,0% in 2010. Even so, Votorantim Cimentos continues to seek alternatives to further reduce CO₂ emissions from the cement production process;
• The production of clinker is the stage that emits more CO₂ into the atmosphere. Thus, one way to mitigate this emission is replacing some other component that emits less CO₂, but that must not change the quality and characteristics of the final product. In 2010, the percentage of clinker in the final product decreased 7,0% comparing to 1990, indicating a significant increase in the use of this alternative materials;
• Aiming to mitigate the specific CO₂ emissions, given the significant increase in demand that has occurred in the internal market, Votorantim Cimentos has announced new investments in pioneering projects in the sector. Among them, highlights are intended to increase the production of artificial pozzolana in plants located in North, Northeast and Midwest.

Check out our progress clicking here.

The CO2 emission reduction strategy includes:

• Investing in research and development in order to cut down on the use of clinker whilst maintaining or even improving product performance;
• Investing in technologies that improve thermal efficiency;
• Optimizing the energy matrix by using more biomass and industrial waste, thus causing ewer emissions(kg CO2/kcal).

In order to measure and assess progress in CO2 reduction CSI applies the following indicators:

• Number of facilities and percentage using the WBCSD CO₂ Protocol Guidelines for their emissions inventory.

These guidelines were applied in all VC's plants.

• Company-wide gross and net CO₂ emissions
• Company-wide gross and net CO₂ emissions per tonne of cementitious product.
• Specific Eletric Energy Consuption per tones of Cement

In 2010, was signed by the president of Votorantim Cimentos the Manifesto for Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings created by the WBCSD. The objective of this initiative is to encourage and propagate sustainable consumption among employees also in corporate centers.

This document presents guidelines for develop a CO2 Inventory for commercial buildings, and from this, outline future targets for reducing energy consumption. Thus, Votorantim Cimentos has developed the Inventory for its Corporate Centers in Brazil validated by external audit along with other CSI Indicators.

Check out the Assurance Letter of the external audit conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers validating the indicators of the CSI Task Force on Climate Protection and Assurance Letter validating the Inventory of Centers Corporate VC-Brazil.

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