Their annual production levels of cement and aggregate are approximately 55 million cubic metres and 160 million tonnes respectively. They have operations spanning across thirty three countries, currently employing 44,104 people and have an annual sales figure of US$15. 14 billion (CEMEX 2012).
The stakeholders that are of focus in this paper are the neighbouring communities of the production plants and the many employees of CEMEX. The production of cement is one of the most environmentally unfriendly practices in the world.
During production, there are a number of environmental problems; CEMEX has a number of policies and procedures in place to combat their significant environmental impacts; but the damage to the environment and their negative impact on stakeholders is significant, and because of this, the benefits of CEMEX’s positive contributions are often over shadowed. The case against CEMEX. In 2006, CEMEX displayed a lack of commitment to stakeholders, when they were fined a record ? 00,000 after hazardous cement kiln dust escaped the production plant in Rugby, and spread approximately seven tonnes of hazardous cement kiln dust across houses and cars up to five kilometres away (ENDS Report 2012).
The Essay on Outsource Production or Remain Producing at Home?
Based on and inspired by the widespread outsourcing moves of many companies from their home countries to other more “production friendly, non-very costly” countries all over the world, this paper evaluates the logistics factors and trade regulations affecting decision makers such as the management and/or the organization’s board whether to outsource its manufacturing plant or to retain production ...
This is not the only fine CEMEX has received due to violations of Air Quality Legislation. In 2008, CEMEX was fined $1. 5 million for five separate clean air act compliance issues at the production plant in Lyons (Miller 2009).
The release of toxins and particle matter is a contributing factor in ailments such as asthma, emphysema, heart disease and other respiratory conditions (Georges 2011).
In a study of emissions from a Nigerian cement plant, high quantities of toxic heavy metals such as Nickel and Zinc were found in the surrounding soil (Olaleye, Oluyemi 2009).
The high levels of toxic heavy metals have the possibility of causing heavy metal poisoning. Heavy metals are absorbed by the body through air, food and through the skin. Once inside the body, they compete with and displace important minerals, causing system and organ failure (Medical Dictionary 2012).
This has significant implications on the neighbouring society, but also the employees at cement production plants, as they too are exposed to harmful toxic emissions that can have many adverse medical conditions. The release of cement kiln dust does not only affect the human population surrounding production plants. As cement kiln dust contains many toxic elements; including heavy metals such as fluoride, magnesium, lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, copper, beryllium, there are harmful effects on surrounding aquatic eco systems.
The toxic elements also have significant effects on flora and fauna due to the disturbance of metabolic compositions. Some species that are particularly sensitive to pollution cannot grow in areas with excessive cement kiln dust emissions; and are gradually becoming endangered in areas surrounding cement production plants (Erdal, Demirtas 2010).
This is a significant problem that CEMEX faces, as once a species are extinct; they cannot be replaced nor resurrected. The case for CEMEX In order to combat the problem of CO2 emissions, CEMEX has introduced a variety of strategies.
The Essay on Working Principle of Portland Cement Kiln
Rotary kiln belongs to building material equipment, and it can be divided into cement kiln, metallurgy chemical kiln and lime kiln according to different materials. ASTM C 150 defines Portland cement as “hydraulic cement (cement that not only hardens by reacting with water but also forms a water-resistant product) produced by pulverizing clinkers consisting essentially of hydraulic calcium ...
As mentioned previously, the burning of fossil fuels in kilns is a large contributor to the total CO2 released. CEMEX has implemented the use of state of the art kilns; which heat using alternative fuels such as chipped tyres, household waste and biomass such as animal meals, sewage sludge and agricultural waste; all of which are deemed ‘carbon neutral’. Total energy consumption has been reduced through the use of new technology, such as renewable sources, like wind turbines (CEMEX 2012).
In 2000, CEMEX reduced electrical consumption by 160,000 megawatts, which, with the combination of alternative fuels; reduced CO2 emissions by 263,000 tonnes (Wilson, Chang 2003).
CEMEX is now actively committed to reducing carbon emissions in order to achieve environmental sustainability, “We acknowledge the local and global challenges posed by climate change, and are committed to applying our skills, technologies, and determination to reduce the contribution of our operations and our industry to climate change” (CEMEX 2012).
This commitment helps to satisfy the demand from society and stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions. The efforts of CEMEX are commendable and will certainly help with the overall reduction of CO2; however it is questionable whether or not the burning of alternative fuels is a sustainable solution. The European Commission and UN Intergovernmental Panel on climate change claim state that only biomass fuels such as wood or sewage sludge should be considered carbon neutral, and that the burning of tyres and household waste may be worse than fossil fuels (ENDS Report 2008).
This indicates that by burning alternative wastes such as tyres and household waste, CEMEX is still contributing to the overall CO2 levels in the atmosphere, and may in fact be doing more harm than good. In order to combat the problem of air quality degradation, and keep relations with stakeholders positive, CEMEX pledged to spend US$10 million on pollution controls, aimed at reducing harmful emissions from its production plants and monitor major pollutants. They have also invested in new equipment to reduce air emissions at many of the fifty sites (CEMEX 2012).
While this is commendable, it does not address the growing health concerns, due to the release of toxic cement kiln dust, of society surrounding the production plants and the many employees affected, nor does it address the possibility of heavy metal poisoning of employees and occupants of neighbouring housing. As an organisation promoting environmental sustainability, CEMEX has a number of strategies to combat the problem of resource depletion and damage to surrounding eco systems.
The Essay on Globalization and Production
This discussion will weave together the details supporting the claim that globalization has been detrimental in at least four distinct ways to the global community. In particular, the interests of reducing production costs for multinational corporate entities by operating in the developing sphere has driven a pointed ambition to undermine both labor rights and environmental protections in ...
In plants across the United States, CEMEX has constructed water treatment facilities to recycle and reuse waste water. As a result of these facilities, approximately 84,000 litres of water are saved each year (Wilson, Chang 2003).
The protection and rehabilitation of surrounding eco systems is one of CEMEX’s main priorities. They understand that there are negative impacts on the environment through the production of cement and aggregate, but are working towards achieving sustainability.
CEMEX states that they recognise their access to raw materials and the ability to operate in any given locale is hugely dependant on their ability to effectively manage the land impacts and protect the biodiversity of the area. (CEMEX 2012).
To achieve this goal, they have contributed to reforestation efforts in South America and the Caribbean. They have transformed exhausted limestone quarries into ‘green areas’ that are capable of sustaining wildlife (Wilson, Chang 2003).
CEMEX undertakes extensive esearch into the negative impacts on biodiversity in order to minimise the impact their production plants have on local flora and fauna (CEMEX 2012).
There are also a number of breeding facilities funded by CEMEX, including the El Carmen Biological Reserve; which is the largest breeding facility in the world for desert bighorn sheep (Wilson, Chang 2003).
Though the breeding programs are very beneficial, the damage to other species of animals through the production of cement cannot be rectified through the breeding of one of the affected animals.
CEMEX can be commended for their efforts in promoting reforestation and protecting the natural biodiversity of the regions, but these programs would not be necessary if the environment was at the forefront of their agenda. Conclusion The negative impacts on the environment from the production of cement and aggregate are significant and somewhat unavoidable, without major change. Environmental protection and sustainability is currently a very pressing and urgent social issue; and as such is a key element in ensuring large corporations, such as CEMEX, satisfy the demands of society at large and in particular, their stakeholders.
The Term Paper on Designer Lean Production Processes
DESIGNER LEAN PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND 5S Authors: Amalia Venera Todoru , Doru Cîrnu Abstract: One of the challenges faced by businesses today is the combined pressure to reduce price and to provide an increased a variety of options at lower volumes. This paper will present what we call 5S method as part of the Lean philosophy. It will explain how to introduce this concept and how can it be ...
CEMEX is committed to reducing their carbon footprint and minimising their impact on biodiversity through the various strategies discussed, including the use of alternative fuels instead of fossil fuels, a pledge to spend money on improving the issue of air pollution and various strategies to repair the damage done to biodiversity neighbouring the production plants. While their efforts are commendable, the environmental funding and programs they have implemented do not outweigh the devastating environmental impacts caused both directly and indirectly by the production of cement.
Cement is an integral part of the expansion of many developing countries, and as such is somewhat of a necessity to modern day society. The use of alternative fuels is a minor step in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by CEMEX, but further testing needs to be undertaken to determine whether the burning of old tyres and household waste is contributing to the reduction of CO2, or is only a smoke screen for the severe environmental devastation caused by CO2 emissions.
CEMEX is an environmentally aware organisation, but unfortunately, without further research and development to develop new ingredients in the cement production process and new methods of producing cement, the negative aspects and implications on society will continue to outweigh the positive contributions made by CEMEX.
