Lafarge Africa Unveils Eco Label for its UniCem Cement Brand

Bennett Oghifo 

Lafarge Africa Plc, has announced the launch of Eco Label brand to transparently communicate the environmental benefits of its sustainable building solutions. 

Eco Label represents a broad range of green cement for high performance, sustainability and circular construction. By the production of this eco-friendly cement, Lafarge’s end-users have the opportunity to make greener choices and accelerate the country’s carbon reduction journey in the manufacturing sector.

The Eco Label branding builds on the company’s net zero pledge and supports its ambition to accelerate green construction with the use of lower-footprint products, Lafarge said in a statement. 

Lafarge UniCem brand, which contributes about 23% of the company’s entire volume, is now eco-friendly, the statement said. “The products that are certified to be eco-friendly have a lower 30% carbon footprint compared to the local industry standard. (Global Concrete & Cement Association).” 

Speaking on the initiative, Khaled El Dokani, Country Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa Plc., termed this as a significant milestone for the company, in demonstrating its efforts towards the global climate change commitment of net zero emissions. 

“Lafarge Africa is proud to be the first local cement manufacturer of eco-friendly cement to the Nigerian market. With the rollout of this Eco brand, we are accelerating the transition to more sustainable building materials for greener construction.  

“We are proud of turning our net zero pledge into action with our broad range of green building solutions. The Eco Label is a key milestone on this journey, confirming our group’s commitment to leading the way in sustainability and innovation,” El Dokani added.

Reflecting further on Lafarge’s commitment to supporting sustainable building in the exceptionally competitive local market, El Dokani stated that “the development of these unique products, combined with our holistic customer service, differentiates Lafarge in the marketplace by enabling us to work closely with our customers and offer them better value solutions for their building needs.” 

In his remarks during the formal unveiling of the product at the company’s Mfamosing Plant in Calabar, Sotirios Valsamakis, Plant Manager, of Lafarge Mfamosing Plant, reiterated the company’s continuous commitment to ensure sustainable development through its effective management in line with global best practices in Environmental, Social and Governance, thestatement said.

He added that Lafarge Africa, as a member of Holcim, is leveraging its four sustainability pillars of Climate and Energy, Circular Economy, Environment, and Community in reinforcing innovation which has led to the introduction of this Eco-friendly cement brand. 

On his part, Vorke Enite, Plant Customer Development Manager, Sales & Marketing, Lafarge Africa Plc., said: ‘This  Eco Label launch is an epoch making event and it is heart-warming to note that Lafarge is the first cement company in Nigeria to achieve this feat. With 30% decarbonisation, Lafarge remains committed to building progress for People and the Planet and delivering value to our numerous customers and stakeholders. The product quality is still of certified standard and our customers are happy.’

He continued: ‘Lafarge has been in the country for more than sixty years; our product quality is still the same. The Eco Label launch is a zero-emission initiative and is in compliance with global best practices. It is the same quality, the same efficacy and the same value for our customers/stakeholders.’

In addition, the Quality Manager, Mfamosing Plant, Victor Nsidieti during the event made a presentation on Product composition and the Eco Label advantage.

Also speaking at the event, the State Coordinator of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in Cross River State, Engr. Ninma Apim, while emphasizing the need to mitigate global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions commended Lafarge Africa for being the first cement factory in Nigeria to introduce a cement brand such as the Unicem Portland Limestone Cement which is certified as eco-friendly. 

“It is a good initiative and since it has started with Lafarge with this plant, we are hoping it will extend and other plants will follow suit and reduce carbon emission because cement factories emit a lot of it into the atmosphere. And if we continue to reduce emissions, we will have a greener earth,” he said.