Argos ONE

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ARGOS PRESENTA SU PORTAFOLIO DE SOLUCIONES VERDES PARA APORTAR A UNA INDUSTRIA MÁS SOSTENIBLE

  • Hoy nace un nuevo portafolio orientado a fortalecer la industria de la construcción y maximizar el impacto en la construcción de un futuro sostenible.
     
  • Con Soluciones Verdes, Argos busca seguir posicionándose como un aliado estratégico para el diseño y la construcción de proyectos con características de sostenibilidad.

 

Como parte de su compromiso con la creación de valor y las acciones concretas alrededor de la gestión del cambio climático y de la construcción sostenible, Argos, empresa de cemento del Grupo Argos, presenta Soluciones Verdes, innovación consciente, un portafolio en el que los profesionales de la construcción pueden encontrar recursos, servicios y productos que contribuyen al desarrollo de proyectos más respetuosos con el medioambiente, como una manera de declarar y compartir su compromiso con un futuro más sostenible.

Argos sabe los retos que plantea la sostenibilidad en el campo de la construcción y lo exigente que es elegir los materiales y servicios adecuados. Para facilitar esta labor, ha seleccionado los productos que, por su diseño, producción y desempeño, sobresalen en la contribución a la economía circular, la adaptación a fenómenos naturales, el confort y bienestar de los usuarios o la reducción de emisiones de carbono. Además de los servicios que pueden aportar en el logro de los retos colectivos de la construcción sostenible. Este completo portafolio estará inicialmente disponible en Colombia y, de manera gradual, empezará a estar en las demás geografías donde tiene presencia.

 

«En Argos somos conscientes de la enorme importancia que tiene la gestión del cambio climático y la transición a una economía baja en carbono y entendemos que para lograr este objetivo debemos trabajar unidos. Por eso, ponemos a disposición de nuestros clientes el portafolio de Soluciones Verdes, un conjunto de productos y soluciones orientadas a fortalecer nuestra cadena de valor y mitigar el impacto de nuestra operación desde el proceso de producción, hasta la disposición final de nuestros productos. Estamos convencidos de que Soluciones Verdes nos permitirá seguir posicionándonos como un aliado estratégico para el diseño y la construcción de proyectos con características sostenibles”, explicó Juan Esteban Calle, presidente de Cementos Argos.

 

Algunos de los productos que se encuentran en este portafolio tienen un aporte particular a certificaciones de sostenibilidad como LEED, Casa Colombia o Edge, por sus características de sostenibilidad, entre las más conocidas están:

 

  • Productos bajos en carbono: Argos se ha convertido en un referente de reducción de emisiones de CO2 en el proceso productivo del cemento, ejemplo de esto son los cementos verdes de uso general de las plantas Rioclaro y Sogamoso, en Colombia, y Piedras Azules en Honduras, donde la compañía logró reducir en al menos un 35% las emisiones CO2 en comparación con el cemento portland tradicional. Para lograr estos resultados en el proceso productivo, Argos incorpora materiales cementantes suplementarios como escorias, puzolanas o arcillas activadas térmicamente. Igualmente, la compañía complementa el portafolio con mezclas de concreto que cumplen con criterios de reducción de CO2 de más de un 30 % comparados con mezclas de similares especificaciones técnicas.
     
  • Productos que promueven la adaptación y la economía circular: en esta categoría se incluyen productos que utilizan en su proceso productivo materiales provenientes de otras industrias o aquellos que durante el uso y aplicación aportan a una vida útil más larga de las obras gracias a sus características de durabilidad y resistencia, que en el largo plazo disminuyen el consumo de recursos naturales no renovables. Aquí, entre otros productos, se encuentra el concreto permeable, el cual aporta a la adaptación de fenómenos naturales más extremos por sus aportes al ciclo del agua.
     
  • Productos que aportan al bienestar y confort: son materiales que, por sus características arquitectónicas y de color, permiten la disminución de efectos como la isla de calor.
     

Por su parte, María Isabel Echeverri, vicepresidente Legal y de Sostenibilidad, comentó: “Nuestro objetivo va más allá de disminuir nuestros impactos, lo que buscamos es contribuir al crecimiento sostenible tanto de la compañía, como de nuestros grupos de interés, por eso tenemos iniciativas amigables con el medioambiente a lo largo de toda nuestra cadena de valor y una de ellas es precisamente Soluciones Verdes, un portafolio de productos y soluciones innovadoras que materializa muy bien nuestro compromiso con la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático”.   

 

Entre las soluciones que Argos ha presentado se encuentra Edifika, un proceso de construcción de edificaciones en sistemas modulares prefabricados que generan menor emisión de CO2, reducen el desperdicio y aumentan la durabilidad de las obras. La compañía también presentó Víaforte, una solución de infraestructura vial que promueve el confort y bienestar de los beneficiarios mientras minimiza la explotación de fuentes de materiales, aprovecha los recursos presentes en cada zona y facilita la construcción de vías, especialmente terciarias. Estas soluciones se suman a Sacos Verdes, una iniciativa en la cual Argos recolecta los sacos de cemento para ser reutilizados como materia prima en otras industrias.

 

Cabe destacar que Argos lleva más de 10 años trabajando en un plan de gestión del cambio climático que le ha permitido, a través de acciones sostenibles, reducir sus emisiones de CO2 en un 14 % desde el 2006.

 

Actualmente, la meta de la compañía es reducir el 29 % de sus emisiones de CO2 por cada tonelada de producto cementante que produzca a 2030 y, para lograrlo, ha centrado sus esfuerzos en tres aristas: eficiencia en el uso de energía, aumento constante en el uso de combustibles alternativos y reducción de la cantidad de clínker en el cemento.

 

Líneas del portafolio de Soluciones Verdes

Por último, Argos cuenta con una línea de acompañamiento y formación a sus clientes para hacer equipo en la consecución de objetivos de construcción sostenible.

Categorías
Categorías
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PIEDAD MONSALVE

Gerente de Comunicaciones
pmonsalve@argos.com.co
(57 4) 3198700

DANIELA VALLE

Directora de Comunicaciones
dvalle@argos.com.co

Atmospheric emissions

We are committed to reducing our emissions through actions that achieve more efficient processes and the implementation of abatement measures, contributing to good air quality in the places where we operate.  Our cement-, concrete- and aggregate-production processes generate punctual and scattered particulate matter (PM) emissions, as well as emissions of sulfur oxides (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the clinkering furnaces of the cement plants.

  • For society:  To contribute to mitigating the impact on air quality in the areas where we operate, acting responsibly and promoting relationships of trust with our Stakeholders.

 

  • For the company:  To develop more efficient processes that allow us to reduce our atmospheric emissions and contribute to responsible production, complying with local regulations in the countries where we operate and – in some cases – going beyond compliance with said regulations, contributing to the profitability of the business and preparing to face future challenges.

The “Emissions” pillar of our Environmental Strategy focuses on: Working on the adequate measurement, control and reduction of SO2, NOx and particulate-material (PM) emissions generated by our production processes in the cement business and on the prevention and mitigation of our dispersed emissions of particulate material (dust), originated mainly by the activities of transportation, transfer, unloading and storage of materials in the cement, concrete and aggregate processes. The foregoing, through operational control, optimization and renewal of emission-control systems to achieve continuous improvement.

Industry positioning

We position ourselves as strategic allies for the development of the territories where we are present, directly and through the empowerment of our value chain.  We do it through the construction of housing and sustainable infrastructure that enables the closing of socioeconomic gaps, the generation of employment, the improvement of the quality of life and the reduction of the impacts generated.

  • For society:  To sustainably respond to the growing demand for housing and infrastructure of the world population with the aim of improving people's quality of life, interconnecting regions and developing innovative solutions. 

 

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    For the company:  To be strategic allies of the actors in our value chain in order to maintain the Company's leadership in the market, ensure its competitiveness over time and increase the generation of sustainable value.

We are committed to the role we have as a Company in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda goals, the consolidation of territorial development plans where we operate, and the economic reactivation of the countries affected by the pandemic. Therefore, we focus our efforts in the development of sustainable housing and infrastructure projects that contribute to closing socioeconomic gaps, generating employment under safe conditions, environmental protection, and investment in improving people’s health systems and quality of life. 

Our work unfolds in three large lines:

 

Cities for everyone:

 

With nearly 54% of the world  population living in urban areas, the pandemic made inequality of those who live in the cities of the world

manifest. Nearly 90% of the COVID-19 cases are concentrated in the urban

centers that have, among others, challenges associated with access to basic services and decent housing conditions. For this reason, we work together with our value chain to develop projects that benefit the lessfavored population, facilitate access to housing, and promote development in

the areas of influence.

 

Interconnected cities

 

The need to connect urban areas with rural areas to expand the coverage

of basic services, such as health, has been a priority of developing countries

since before the pandemic. Therefore, during 2020, we continued working on creating innovative solutions that allow us to be present in the large projects of the countries and territories where we are present.

 

Intelligent cities

 

In recent years, the acuteness of the effects of climate change became the

risk of greatest impact to the world. Therefore, in the global stage, a need

has grown to transition to a low-carbon economy, an opportunity that becomes more relevant amid post-pandemic recovery scenarios and the effort we are making as a Company to generate new business models that respond to environmental and social challenges. For this reason, our Climate-Change Strategy includes actions aimed at mitigating the impacts associated with our productive processes, adapting our operating model and innovating from the identification of optimization opportunities.

Supplier management

Supplier management is a fundamental pillar of our Supply Chain Strategy; it seeks to build and strengthen relationships with strategic allies who have the ability to contribute to the Company in terms of efficiency, productivity, customer service and innovation.  For this reason, we carefully select our suppliers, transfer knowledge to promote their development, promote good practices and recognize those who are an example of sustainable, innovative, safe and responsible management.

  • For society:  To develop our suppliers, promote transparent practices and responsible conduct, to improve the productivity and competitiveness of our society and support the construction of a better future.

 

  • For the company:  To seek to add value throughout the Company's supply chain, from the purchase of goods and services to the delivery of products to clients.  Through the mitigation of risks and potentiation of opportunities, the implementation of good contracting practices and service excellence, we create relationships of trust and turn suppliers into business allies.

Our management is divided into five stages:

  1. Identification: We determine the goods and services required for our operation and the category to which they belong, according to our Category Tree. This groups our suppliers into macro-categories which – in turn – are subdivided into two more specific levels.
  2. Pre-Selection: We validate the suitability of suppliers through due diligence and review aspects of sustainability and financial health to ensure long-term relationships.
  3. Negotiation: We select suppliers with high standards, considering technical, economic, sustainability and service aspects.
  4. Retention and evaluation: We carry out knowledge-transfer processes with those suppliers with growth potential.
    • We characterize our suppliers as critical suppliers or with potential risk in sustainability.
    • We measure the management of critical suppliers through performance evaluations in terms of quality, service, occupational health and safety, having constant feedback and identifying key factors for their development.
    • We apply the Sustainability Index to suppliers with potential sustainability risks, to identify challenges, opportunities, and to develop joint action plans in environmental, economic, social and Human-Rights matters.
    • We implement additional controls and development plans to suppliers belonging to categories where the greatest potential risks have been identified. This is how, for example, we develop road-safety strategies for our logistics suppliers; with mining suppliers, we carry out a more rigorous pre-selection process, and with contractors, we have special controls on occupational health and safety.
    • We have a Transparency Line for Stakeholders to report possible improper actions and to implement the pertinent corrective actions. 
  5. Recognition:  Every two years, through Growing Together (Creciendo Juntos), we recognize the suppliers that have shown outstanding performance in innovation, sustainability, health and safety and development and comprehensiveness.

 

Additionally, we have:

 

Contracting manual: transparent action framework that guides the negotiation and contracting of our suppliers to allow the process to be agile, make use of best practices and carry out adequate risk management.

 

Code of conduct for suppliers: in which we define the principles and behaviors that we expect from our allies in terms of respect for human rights, protection of workers, environmental management, business ethics and responsible business practices.

Ethics and compliance

We are convinced that ethics and integrity are fundamental and non-negotiable; that is why we live by these principles, integrating them into our operations, processes, and strategy, thus generating value responsibly for our business, our Stakeholders, and for society.  Through the Global Governance and Compliance Program, our ethics and business conduct system, we seek to promote that our actions are consistent with the pillars of corporate culture and integrity as the guiding principle of our business activity.

  • For society:  To promote transparent, competitive, and sustainable business environments that strengthen trust and ethics in business, generating positive impacts for the market and society.

 

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    For the company:  To promote that our actions are consistent with the pillars of culture and that integrity is the inspiring principle of all members of the Organization.  This is how we consolidate ourselves as a competitive, reliable company in the eyes of investors and other Stakeholders.

We have voluntarily adopted a self-regulatory framework that confirms our commitment to business ethics as a way to promote transparent practices that contribute to the development of competitive environments. This framework* incorporates mandatory principles of ethics and conduct:

 

 

For the proper implementation and application of these guidelines, the strengthening of the ethical culture, the prevention and control of incorrect actions, our Board of Directors approved the Global Governance and Compliance Program (GGCP, in Spanish). The program structure incorporates international best practices to evaluate compliance programs, such as ISO 37001, ISO 19600 and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) guidelines. The program has the following scope:

 

 

Likewise, it systematically groups together the activities carried out to promote integrity in the Company's actions, its employees, and members

of the value chain, which allow the updating and permanent strengthening

of the program. Operating Scheme:

 

Efficiency and productivity

We materialize our Corporate Strategy through actions aimed at the efficient use of resources, the improvement of our financial flexibility and the maximization of income generation and business profitability.  We focus on the application of efficient, safe production processes and circular economy models, on the diversification of energy management models and on the efficient management of the supply chain.

  • For society:  To provide solutions and products that meet the needs of our clients through the responsible, appropriate use of resources and the incorporation of raw materials and alternative energy sources.

 

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    For the company:  To guarantee business sustainability, optimize working capital and capital investments, reduce costs and the level of indebtedness, and mitigate risks regarding the availability of resources necessary for our operation and the emergence of new business realities, environmental requirements and new regulations.

Creamos valor construyendo relaciones sólidas que transforman el futuro de la sociedad

Creamos valor a través de nuestro compromiso con el desarrollo responsable y transparente de nuestras actividades.