Italcementi has been re-confirmed for 2008-2009 as one of the organizations in the DJSI World, the highly regarded global business management benchmark that tracks the performance of sustainability leaders, assessed on the basis of economic, environmental and social sustainability criteria.

Italcementi, which this year has also improved its rating, is one of seven Italian groups listed in the prestigious corporate social responsibility index, the only Italian company active in construction materials and one of four operators in the worldwide industry.

"I take great pride in the fact that for the second year running Italcementi has been recognized as one of the world’s players of excellence in business management - said Italcementi CEO Carlo Pesenti - our DJSI rating is a tribute to the Group’s outstanding commitment to sustainability, which has always been an integral part of our corporate culture and history and consistent with our mission to help create value in the construction materials industry through innovative, sustainable use of natural resources to the benefit of the community and our customers.
I am firmly convinced that our long-term business success depends on an ability to satisfy growing stakeholder expectations with regard to value creation, respect for ecosystems and social conditions that guarantee protection of people’s health and creation of widespread opportunities. Balancing our financial, business, environmental and social results has been and will continue to be a key challenge for the Group.”

As a correct balance between creation of economic value, protection of the environment and social responsibility, sustainability has been an integral part of Italcementi Group corporate strategy and company practice for many years.

Italcementi consolidated its sustainability activities in 2000 when it joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a group of 180 international groups who uphold common principles regarding sustainable growth.
Within the WBCSD, Italcementi subscribes to the Agenda for Action, the first formal pledge coupling the business operations of cement manufacturers with Sustainable Development Policies. Signed, initially, by the world’s ten largest cement producers, the protocol sets out a five-year action plan for industrial development designed to safeguard the future for the new generations on the basis of specific social, economic and environmental criteria.
The protocol covers six important areas for a “more sustainable” society: climate protection, responsible use of fuel and raw materials, workplace health and safety, reduction of emissions, management of impact on the territory and local communities, and sustainability reporting and disclosure.

Over the last few years, Italcementi has been promoting a special Sustainable Development Awareness Program for Group companies, to provide training and raise sensitivity to sustainability issues. Key projects include the Zero Accidents Program, adopted throughout the Group: introduced in 2000 the program has led to a reduction of more than 60% in the accident frequency rate.

The Group’s policies are summarized in the Values Charter, which sets out and links the basic principles of the Italcementi Codes of Governance and the Group’s Sustainable Development goals. The Values Charter is the point of convergence between the ethics of each individual employee and the corporate ethics of the organization as a whole.

The fifth Sustainable Development report and economic, environmental, ethical and governance documents can be downloaded from the group website.

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