GCCA announces new biodiversity policy towards the achievement of Net Positive Impact

Outlines positive action throughout cement, concrete and aggregate operations and sectors role in enhancing global biodiversity

(London: 25^th January 2021) – The global cement and concrete industry is announcing its commitment to supporting and enhancing global biodiversity throughout its operations. To underline this, the GCCA has today launched a new policy document which outlines steps that GCCA members commit to taking to work towards the achievement of Net Positive Impact in cement, concrete and aggregates operations.

With 2021 being recognised as a critical year for biodiversity and the natural world, and the connections between biodiversity and climate change widely recognised, the industry is reiterating its commitment to improving biodiversity throughout the lifespan of its operations as concrete continues to be vital in supporting global infrastructure and a sustainable global economic recovery.

Claude Loréa, Cement Director, GCCA said: “Protecting and enhancing biodiversity is critical for the future of our planet. While the cement and aggregate industry can have an impact on nature through extraction of raw materials from the earth, our member companies have a great record in minimising the impact of their operations – restoring and often improving the balance of nature in land that they manage.

“Working towards net positive impact throughout their operations will underpin the great work that is already underway. We already have detailed guidelines for member companies to follow and our new policy outlines our commitment to building the sustainable world of tomorrow.”

The biodiversity policy unveil follows last year’s launch of GGCA’s Climate Ambition to reduce the CO₂ footprint of member company operations and produce carbon neutral concrete by 2050 in line with global climate goals – an important step in helping to protect the natural world.

The biodiversity policy outlines four specific key actions to ensure ecosystems can flourish:

1. Formulating and executing effective and progressive quarry rehabilitation and biodiversity management plans.
2. Tracking, monitoring, reporting, and establishing assurance of information through Key Performance Indicators.
3. Highlighting concrete’s strong sustainability characteristics, such as high versatility, which enables material efficiency aligned with Nature Based Solution initiatives.
4. Working in partnership to scale up efforts, building close ties with civil society organisations.

A new animated video explaining the industry’s role in enhancing biodiversity has also been created and can be found at: https://youtu.be/LVW1CgzDDWE

Sustainability Webinar

To mark the launch of the policy and campaign to outline the biodiversity work across the sector, the GCCA hosted the latest instalment in its sustainability-focused webinar series, titled ‘Enhancing Global Biodiversity – Cement and Concrete Industry’s Contribution’.

Speakers included Gerard Bos, Director, Business and Biodiversity Programme, IUCN; Eva Zabey, Executive Director, Business for Nature Coalition; and Claude Loréa, Cement Director, GCCA. Discussions centred around the importance of biodiversity, and how the cement and aggregate is making positive contributions in areas such as land and water management.

Gerard Bos, Director, Business and Biodiversity Programme, IUCN said: “The cement, concrete and aggregate industry has a great track record in improving biodiversity throughout its operations. We welcome GCCA’s new policy and its work towards making the world more sustainable.”

Eva Zabey, Executive Director, Business for Nature Coalition said: “It is critical that businesses work to prevent and reverse nature loss. GCCA’s biodiversity policy is an important additional step to ensuring that the cement and aggregate industry continues to minimise its impact and enhances the biodiversity in the areas in which it operates.”

Claude Loréa added: “GCCA member companies and our sector are often recognised for the stewardship of the land we operate and sustainable quarry management – and we work with all our affiliate associations across the world to shine a light on this work.”

Find out more: gccassociation.org/biodiversity

ENDS

About the GCCA

Launched in January 2018, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is dedicated to developing and strengthening the sector’s contribution to sustainable construction. The GCCA aims to foster innovation throughout the construction value chain in collaboration with industry associations as well as architects, engineers, and innovators. In this way, the association demonstrates how concrete solutions can meet global construction challenges and sustainable development goals while showcasing responsible industrial leadership in the manufacture and use of cement and concrete. The GCCA is headquartered in London, England. It complements and supports the work done by associations at the national and regional levels.

About the International Union for Conservation of Nature 

IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,300 Member organisations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

Find out more about IUCN’s work in ecosystem-based adaptation.

About Business for Nature

Business for Nature is a global coalition bringing together influential organisations and forward-thinking businesses. Together, we demonstrate business action and amplify a powerful business voice calling for governments to reverse nature loss.

https://www.businessfornature.org/

Media enquiries should be directed to
Paul Adeleke – GCCA Communications and Policy Director – paul.adeleke@gccassociation.org