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Rethinking cement well established

Mar, 10 2010

Some 102 years ago, Huaxin Cement Co Ltd was well known as the first cement factory in Central China and was called Hubei Cement Factory. Over the past century it has continually garnered experience and expertise to become a leader in the Chinese cement industry.

It has transformed from a traditional cement company to a modern global business, assuring quality for its customers and care for the environment.

For 12 years, Huaxin partners with Holcim, a Swiss building materials group, who is also a global leader in sustainable development in this industry. Since 2008, Holcim is the single largest shareholder of Huaxin which ensures technology transfer, for example, in environmental protection and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Leading the way

Over the past years, Huaxin has committed itself to changing the gray, environmentally heavy-handed image of the cement industry. It is working to realize its development into a sustainable and energy conserving enterprise.

"To foster a responsible company image requests us not to exclusively pursue profit, but to fulfill our social responsibility, continually improve the environmental performance and meet the demands of shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, government and communities," said Huaxin CEO Li Yeqing.

Huaxin was the first cement company in China that published a CSR report in 2008. In addition, it hosted the Holcim Global Awards for Sustainable Construction Bronze prize hand-over in Beijing in 2009.

Famous customers

Huaxin and its subsidiaries have been providing 100 percent qualified goods for 48 consecutive years, a rare record in the industry.

Over the past century many famous buildings have been erected with the use of Huaxin cement including iconic buildings in Beijing such as the Great Hall of the People and the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.

Huaxin was a major supplier for the Three Gorges Project and was named best supplier in terms of quality and service by China Three Gorges Project Corporation.

Green action

Huaxin is diligently implementing green policies but also delivers on innovative technological leadership in the field of waste management in the cement industry in China - the entire company is on a green campaign with investment in environment protection accounting for over 12 percent of Huaxin's total investment.

"To find proper solutions to the 'green crisis' of the cement industry, we need to focus our mind on environmental protection. We have to incorporate 'being green' as part of our comprehensive strategy," said Li.

The traditional cement industry contributes to infrastructure construction and social modernization. However, it leaves people with a fixed impression of high-energy consumption and heavy pollution. "Huaxin's development should not be at the cost of the environment. We are seeking for a harmonious development together with society and nature," Li said.

Some concrete examples of implemented environmental protection measures are: the recycling of waste heat into electricity; the use of alternative fuels and raw materials; the reduction of the clinker factor by increased use of mineral components; and the use of energy efficient milling systems.

In addition, through selective mining and advanced blasting techniques, the waste from raw material mining is greatly reduced and rehabilitation guidelines and plans will be implemented by quarries, resulting in conservation and restoration projects.

Global cooperation

As mentioned, co-processing of alternative fuels and raw materials (AFR) is the key to a sound sustainable development strategy for Huaxin. Co-processing means using waste materials in industrial processes. It is the recovery of energy or material from wastes and provides a waste management solution for society.

Early in 2007, Huaxin plant at Wuxue was involved in the disposal of more than 150 tons of obsolete pesticides (OP) through cooperation with the Sino-German OP management project. The successful cooperation resulted in a follow up project in 2009 where more than 1,000 tons of OP from Hubei province were co-processed.

Huaxin believes that co-processing needs to follow strict rules and guidelines. Based on long-term and worldwide experience in the field of AFR and together with its international partner Holcim, Huaxin has contributed to the compilation of some key documents.

Among them are: "Guidelines on Co-processing Waste Materials in Cement Production" by GTZ-Holcim Public Private Partnership; "Guidelines for Co-processing of Hazardous Wastes in Cement Kilns" by the Chinese Research Academy for Environmental Sciences , and; "Technical Guidelines on Co-processing of Hazardous Wastes in Cement Kilns" by the United Nations Environment Program.

Trusted Holcim

With Holcim, Huaxin has a partner with an excellent track record in sustainable development. From 2005 to 2009, Holcim was named "Leader of the Industry" by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, thereby acknowledging Holcim as the company with the best sustainability performance in the building materials industry.

Ian Riley, assistant to CEO of Huaxin and managing director of Holcim Management Services (China) Ltd, said: "Based on its worldwide and long-term success story, Holcim can contribute to the sustainable development of Huaxin by providing the latest technology, ensuring continuous know-how transfer and the implementation of relevant guidelines such as the AFR policy. The AFR policy is governing the activities in the AFR business and is therefore a key guideline to sustainable business development."

Environment protection

Huaxin is dedicated to a low carbon economy and co-processing is an excellent example. Huaxin helps build necessary infrastructure such as bridges, airports, and houses by providing concrete. At the same time it offers its waste management solutions resulting in the following benefits:

Waste material is safely treated thereby reducing the negative impact on society and environment.

A stable kiln operation and increased AFR usage can significantly reduce emissions such as CO2.

Comprehensive treatment and sorting of waste transforms ordinary waste into a valuable energy source.

Besides the current sewage sludge disposal in its Yidu plant in Yichang, Huaxin will co-process an annual amount of roughly 100,000 cu m of floating material from the Three Gorges Dam at the newly built Zigui cement plant.

Currently, Huaxin is developing a comprehensive solution for municipal solid waste. This project will not only be a role model for China, but also for other countries in the world.