Holcim Community Relations

Holcim is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cement, as well as aggregates (gravel and sand), concrete and construction-related services. The Holcim Group, which includes Union Cement of the Philippines, has majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents.

The company has a long history of constructive engagement, particularly with local communities in many countries. A productive way of addressing specific issues that emerge from stakeholders in areas close to its operations is through the community advisory panels (CAP). With a broad cross-section of representative voices, CAPs can directly generate substantive input from the community as well as experts in specific technical fields.

Before Holcim invested in Union in 1988, Union’s relationship with external stakeholders was based on limited or selective engagement, in some cases characterized by an adversarial relationship with local communities. However, it was recognized that this did not present a supportive environment in which to maintain its license to operate.

In one instance, a flood that devastated the area close to Union