2005 Sustainability Report - Lafarge

PROVIDING SOLUTIONS
GEARED TO LOCAL
COMMUNITIES' NEEDS
Given the nature of its activity, Lafarge's
future is strongly dependent on its
ability to become integrated in the local
community. Lafarge endeavors to meet
the specific needs and expectations of
local communities by providing a wide
variety of appropriate solutions.
Our multi-local involvement
The quality of the relations that we
maintain with local communities is
taken into account in Business Units'
performance programs. For instance,
the quality of the dialogue represents
one of the levers of the Cement business’
Advance performance program.
To face the different local situations
occurring in our 2,000 sites, we
encourage Business Units to forge local
partnerships with organizations that
provide their vision, expertise and
resources to address local issues.
Through a framework agreement with
Habitat for Humanity International
(HFHI) in 2005, Lafarge extended and
Lafarge volunteers
participating
in the Korea Blitz
Build project for
the construction
of a Habitat for
Humanity village
in South Korea.
developed at Group level a series of
partnerships forged over several years
in South Korea, the United States, South
Africa and the United Kingdom to
increase their respective efforts. Lafarge
commits to working with HFHI on
housing access in 25 countries by 2010.
For instance, in Romania, housing has
been built for the most disadvantaged
under a five-year partnership with
Habitat for Humanity since 2002.
Lafarge provides building materials for
homes, in 12 countries to date, which
are built by volunteer employees.
Supporting the relocation of
populations in Bangladesh
Lafarge Surma Cement (an association
of several partners) is building a cement
plant close to the village of Chhatak.
Hundreds of people had to be moved
before the plant could be built. In
addition to awarding high financial
compensation, Lafarge supported their
relocation while rolling out substantial
educational and healthcare programs
and providing professional training
programs for 442 women (needlework,
candle making, etc.). These programs
BREAKDOWN OF ACTIVITIES
IN COUNTRIES OF CONCERN
REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS*
*Based on Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World 2005”
Index, which rates countries on their levels of civil
and political rights.
3%
10%
87%
04 05 04 05
sales breakdown
● Not Free
● Partly Free
● Free
3%
13%
84%
18%
77%
have delivered benefits in terms of an
increase in the literacy rate, a lower
infant mortality rate (currently 8% vs.
15% in 2001) and an improved level of
professional qualification among women.
Prior to relocation, only 3.3% of the
population concerned lived in permanent
housing. The current level is 71% as a
result of the compensation and technical
assistance provided by Lafarge.
Donations to local communities
Although there is no formal policy
concerning donations to local communities,
we have made a commitment
to our stakeholder panel to establish
a policy and to incorporate it in the next
edition of our Code of Business Conduct.
LAFARGE | 2005 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | PAGE 37
5%
workforce breakdown
11%
16%
73%