2005 Sustainability Report - Lafarge

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND COSTS >
Protecting the environment
Working towards
sustainable construction
Sustainable construction aims at
designing buildings that provide an
appropriate response to environmental,
economic and social stakes.
The key drivers in developed countries
are energy savings, personal health and
comfort and water management.
The main additional issues in developing
countries are economic and social
imperatives, such as employment and
access to decent, low-cost housing.
As the world leader in building
materials, Lafarge believes that part
of its commitment to society is to look
beyond its sole industrial performance.
The impact of its products needs to be
considered during their entire life cycle
and Lafarge is committed to working
closely with the entire construction
BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE-CYCLE
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Possibility
to influence
impacts
and costs
Impacts and costs
of planning
Impacts
and costs of
construction
PAGE 24 | 2005 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | LAFARGE
industry to design and promote a more
sustainable construction.
GROUP'S STRATEGIC
FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE
CONSTRUCTION
In developed countries, the building
sector accounts for around 40% of energy
and natural resources consumption and
40% of waste produced 1 .
80% of the environmental impact
generated by this sector comes from
the use and maintenance of buildings:
heating, air conditioning and hot water.
The remaining 20% is attributable to
materials manufacturing, the building
process, renovation and demolition.
To reduce the environmental impact of
the building sector, the construction
Impacts and costs
during use phase
Cumulated
impacts
and costs
0 PLANNING
CONSTRUCTION
USE AND MAINTENANCE
industry needs to improve performance
mainly during the use and maintenance
phase, but also during all other stages
of the life cycle.
Lafarge has therefore defined six
strategic areas:
1 | Production and distribution of our
materials
2 | Facilitate the construction process
3 | Increase materials’ performance
3 | Develop more efficient building
systems
5 | Recycling
6 | Contribute to raising living
standards.
1 | Source: European Commission Directorate General
for Energy and Transport.
Base
100
COMPARISON UTILISATION OF CONSUMPTION
AND DE EMISSIONS MATIÈRES BETWEEN PREMIÈRES
A BRIDGE DE SUBSTITUTION
BUILT OUT OF DUCTAL®
AND (% A COMPOSITE
de l’effecif total)
STEEL/CONCRETE SOLUTION
65
Quantity
of raw
materials
0000 0000 0000
03 04 05
Primary
Energy
Base 100: composite steel/concrete
solution
● Ductal® solution
54
47
CO2
Emissions