Environmental Challenges

The environment is a key issue throughout our value chain, from extraction and transport to monitoring and control of processes at our facilities.

Stone and carbonates

The extraction of stone raw materials affects the environment through an irreversible change in the landscape when the resource is removed from nature. During extraction, the surrounding area is affected by noise from machinery and vibrations from blasting. The operations may also impact biodiversity, both positively and negatively, around the sites.

We work to avoid and minimise any negative impact on biodiversity. In some cases, we restore or implement compensatory measures to enhance positive effects.

Burnt products

When limestone and dolomite are processed into quicklime and burnt dolomite, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere both from the stone raw material and from the fuels used in the process.

The lime burning process also generates emissions such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, heavy metals and dioxins in flue gases. Before release, the gases are cleaned to minimise air pollutant emissions.

All operations are conducted in accordance with our applications and the conditions granted in our environmental permits. Based on the requirements set out in these permits, control programmes are established describing the sampling and measurements to be carried out at each facility to demonstrate compliance. The results are reported in the annual environmental report. Our permits are monitored and inspected by the respective supervisory authorities.

Going forward, we will continue to develop new working methods and technologies to prevent and minimise emissions and pollution.

Through development, we will also contribute to reducing the use of virgin raw materials by enabling circular flows and the management of waste products. To understand market needs and find the best solutions, we need to deepen our collaboration with customers and other companies.