2005 Sustainability Report - Lafarge

REACH
Lafarge believes that the REACH regulation
is applicable by the industry in its current
form. Clinker, the basic substance used
to manufacture cement, is exempt from
the registration procedure. Cement is
subject to the marketing restriction rules
laid down in REACH. The quality of the
information provided in safety data sheets
is highlighted by REACH, and Lafarge
supports full disclosure in this area and
is participating in efforts by the European
cement industry to harmonize these forms.
FINANCING FOR HIGHWAY
INFRASTRUCTURE (US)
Lafarge North America has a governmental
relations program that deals with key federal,
state, and provincial legislative and regulatory
matters. In 2005, Lafarge North America
participated in a broad coalition of
transportation companies and organizations
that worked with the United States Congress
and the Bush Administration for reauthorization
of the Federal highway construction funding
legislation. The legislation that was enacted
and signed into law by President Bush benefits
the public by extending the federal funding
authorization of highways, bridges and
mass transit for the next five years,
with a commensurate increase in funding.
DUMPING BY MEXICAN
CEMENT PRODUCERS
Lafarge North America has been a member
of an industry coalition addressing Mexican
cement companies’ practice of dumping
cement in the United States at prices well
below the prevailing rate in Mexico.
The coalition has always supported the
levying of duties on such Mexican imports
of cement. During 2005, the coalition
participated in intergovernmental
negotiations between the governments
of the United States and Mexico to resolve
the matter of duties due on such imports.
FUTURE INTERNATIONAL REGIME
FOR COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
We are urging the European Union not to embark alone on ambitious programs to reduce its emissions.
We would like all countries and all sectors of the worldwide economy to participate in the process.
We support public initiatives encouraging research efforts to find technologies producing lower
emissions. We are in favor of setting emission reduction targets, but are arguing the case for them
to be compatible with economic growth. To this extent, we are in favor of setting unit-based objectives
based on technical standards. We are also encouraging governments to consider a sectoral approach,
which may represent a promising alternative to the existing country by country approach.
John F. Limehouse Bridge in Charleston, USA,
made with Portland Cement.
CLEAN AIR ACT
Lafarge North America has been a member
of trade associations that have worked with
the United States Environmental Protection
Agency to establish more appropriate
ambient air quality standards under the
Clean Air Act for 2.5 – 10 micron range of
particulate matter. The Agency has recently
issued new regulations which continue to
protect the public while exempting most
farming and mining operators (such as
Lafarge North America) from regulations
applicable to this range of particulate
matter, due to the fact that particulates
in this range commonly exist at the earth’s
surface and are generally not of the type
that cause human health effects.
PROMOTING A COMMON
COMMUNICATION
FRAMEWORK TOWARDS
INVESTORS AND FINANCIAL
MARKETS
Lafarge is convinced that financial markets
are increasingly going to integrate
extra-financial aspects in their evaluation
criteria. The Group believes that companies
must participate in the elaboration
of a framework for common reporting
practices. Lafarge has done this with
the CSI (WBCSD).
LAFARGE | 2005 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | PAGE 15