“Not at workers’ expense,” BWI says on LafargeHolcim’s carbon emission reduction

BWI expressed its concerns over the possibility that around 100 French workers of LafargeHolcim will be affected by the company’s alleged shift to alternative fuels. 

It was reported that between now and 2025, LafargeHolcim will invest in new technology, such as alternative fuels, to upgrade its production chain. BWI said that the company’s plan to restructure locally by re-evaluating its production capacity and reducing its costs could have a major impact on the wages and employment of workers. 

“Any attempt from LafargeHolcim to reduce its carbon footprint should not be done at the expense of workers. We expect that it will consult the workers’ representatives on any decision to be made that will affect them and their families. We also expect that tailor-made solutions will be made available to each worker for any eventuality,” BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson said. 

LafargeHolcim is said to be building a new cement plant in the south of France, near Toulouse, which is expected to be finished by the end of the year. The company is aiming to use alternative fuels to reduce its carbon footprint by 25 percent per ton of cement at the said site. 

The company is also expected to modernise its historic cement works in Le Teil, Ardèche, and its new production facility in Mayenne in an effort to introduce new types of cement to the market. It also plans to convert its plant in Contes in Alpes-Maritimes into a logistics depot.

LafargeHolcim is also planning to end its operations at 19 quarries or deposits that form part of its aggregate business. They say that these sites are already depleted and too far from their market, accounting for less than 2.5 percent of sales. #