Lafarge is a global building products manufacturer, headquartered in France, which makes cement related products. As a result of its activities, the company has a significant environmental footprint (mainly from carbon emissions, water use and biodiversity reduction) as well as significant social risks (health and safety, public health and local community impact).

Lafarge is traditionally one of the higher sustainability performers within the sector. However, the company wanted to make sure it stayed ahead of industry peers and pre-empt any issues with stakeholders. In 2008, Lafarge had set a strategy for moderate improvement, ‘Ambitions for 2012’ and these needed to be reviewed and a new strategy defined. The company wanted to build on this foundation and re-establish its leadership credentials in sustainability.

Anthesis advised that the first step in developing a new sustainability strategy, Ambitions 2020, was to engage internally with the business to gain insights on expectations and recommendations. The initial engagement involved facilitating a day-long workshop for the global emerging leaders’ group supported by their CEO. This was followed up with further workshops with corporate management. Armed with these insights, Anthesis supported the design of a framework for Ambitions 2020, challenging the company on its vision for a sustainable business. The strategy framework was refined through further internal and external engagement before being published in early 2012.