The Group released guidelines for the responsible use of alternative fuels and raw materials with a focus on:

• selection
• management
• control.

The aim is to minimise potential impacts on environment, health and safety of employees and others involved in the use of materials, including end users and the public.

The guidelines include a list of materials that must not be used under any circumstance.

In 2009, 5.4% of the total fuels used in cement operations were alternative fuels equivalent to 214 ktoe (2.8% was biomass).
The alternative fuels proportion rose to 5.7% in Spain thanks to the use of chopped tires in Añorga and Malaga plants, and to 12.6% in Thailand with the use of bark wood and rice husk and recently chopped tires in Pukrang plant. Use of alternative fuels levelled off at 21.6% in France and 21.0% in Belgium.

5.6% (4,281 kt) of Group raw materials used in cement operations were non-quarried. In particular, alternative raw materials represented 30% (2,885 kt) of materials added to Portland and blended cement.

Clinker ratio was 81.9%, increasing slightly (80.9% in 2008).

4.8% of cement porduction types contained more than 30% of alternative raw materials (4% in 2008), while two thirds of the global product range contained non-quarried materials.

Additional information is available in the sdReport .