Heidelberg Materials
Environmental Policy
May 2024
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01 Environmental Policy
The Environmental Policy of Heidelberg Materials refers to our
commitment to the environment and is part of our policy framework,
which also includes underlying policies, such as our Biodiversity Policy,
Water Policy, Responsible Land Use Policy and Climate Policy. These policies
apply to Heidelberg Materials AG and all companies that Heidelberg
Materials AG directly or indirectly controls.
01. Commitments 04. Managing our operations and training
our employees
We understand that the environment is fundamentally
important, not only for our business, but for our planet Production sites have installed environmental management
and all life. Therefore, as Heidelberg Materials, we take the systems to manage critical environmental impacts
environment as critically important and sensitive topic into and risks and continually improve the environmental
account in all our operational and investment decisions. performance of our activities. Heidelberg Materials Group
Our Sustainability Commitments 2030 set the foundation defines environmental company standards that meet
of our sustainability strategy. They focus on our net-zero or exceed local regulatory requirements. Environmental
pathway by driving the decarbonisation of our company mid-term targets – for instance on specific atmospheric
and they also set targets for a broader contribution to the emissions – are defined, tracked, and published on Group
UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as environmental level. The overarching ESG policies are complemented
protection, water, biodiversity, and sustainability in the by guidelines and procedures, e.g. guidelines on water
supply chain. reporting in cement plants, on sourcing of alternative fuels
or on emission control for new cement plants. Our business
02. Corporate Governance lines implement operational models which also address
environmental aspects.
Environmental topics are addressed at our Managing
Board through our Chief Sustainability Officer. Group and We train and raise awareness among our employees to
country managers are responsible for implementing this understand how to reduce our environmental impact.
policy and for complying with national or local laws that Trainings on environmental protection and other
address environmental protection. environmental topics are an integral part, especially
for our technical employees.
03. Understanding our environmental
impact and reporting 05. Research and innovation
We monitor our environmental impact by measuring Research and innovation are essential for achieving the
relevant emission data such as CO2, air emissions, and sustainability targets, enabling us to optimise processes,
water consumption. We aim for regular air emission develop new products, and safeguard their quality for
monitoring in all our cement plants and implement standardised use. Our fields of innovation cover our
environmental management certification schemes entire value chain from raw materials extraction, clinker
to limit our environmental impact. and cement production, CO2 capture, down to building
materials such as Ultra-High-Performance Concrete,
We will report according to the European Sustainability 3D printing or recycling.
Reporting Standards (ESRS) starting with the Annual
and Sustainability Report 2024. Here, all material
environmental impacts and their governance, the
interaction with strategy and business model, their
management, and corresponding metrics as well as
targets are disclosed. Additionally, we report according
to the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
and the IFRS Sustainability Standards, which cover
the former Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD), ensuring a high degree of
interoperability. Finally, we report in accordance
with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
(SASB) framework.
02 Environmental Policy
06. Engagement along the value chain
We attach great importance to responsible procurement
and sustainable behaviour on the part of our suppliers.
We aim for a transparent assessment and monitoring of
our supplier base and close cooperation with suppliers
regarding our sustainability approach and expectations
towards our supply chain, including human rights
compliance and environmental protection. Suppliers are
informed on our expectations e.g. via our Supplier Code
of Conduct and during regular supplier meetings or as
part of any tender process. At the core of our approach
is a comprehensive risk assessment process that is rolled
out to our suppliers based on assessing country risks
as well as product category risks.
We also engage with our customers, to help them to
understand the sustainability of our products. We offer our
Sustainability Academy in various countries to meet with
our customers, architects, and construction companies.
07. Raising awareness
The sustainability transition can only be achieved through
collaboration with the relevant stakeholders. Therefore
engagement with the different groups is of utmost
importance to us. We cooperate with various partners
from the industry, associations, governmental and
non-governmental organisations, as well as universities
and research institutions. We carefully decide which
initiatives, associations and the like we support.
Our engagement in associations and initiatives aims
to drive and accelerate a successful implementation of
the industrial transformation towards net zero. We thus
raise the awareness of environmental issues concerning
our industry by engaging with national governments,
local communities, associations, and non-governmental
organisations.
Heidelberg Materials AG
Berliner Strasse 6
69120 Heidelberg
Germany
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