Cemex de CV : Delivering Solutions for Affordable Housing and Efficient Buildings

Around the world, city planners are constantly challenged to find ways to efficiently and affordably house rapidly growing urban populations. CEMEX supports these efforts, delivering housing for all socioeconomic markets.

In 2015, our expertise in building efficient homes with tailor-made and adaptable systems contributed to the construction of 2,400 affordable and/or energy-efficient buildings in 13 countries, representing approximately 1.58 million square feet (147,000 square meters) of livable space. In one project in Colombia, CEMEX is participating in the Colombian Government's Social Interest Housing for Savers program (VIPA), which is building houses for lower-income families. The homes developed with our solutions also provide sustainability benefits including quality products and higher roofs to offer more comfort and better thermal conditions.

As a company we also look for key allies in the regions where we operate to help us meet our goal of supporting the social and economic development of communities around the globe. Our development agreement with Mexico´s National Civil Protection agency aims to develop programs that increase cities' resilience to natural disasters.

Through our participation with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and its local partner in Mexico, we facilitated workshops in Merida and Guadalajara to identify areas of concern, prioritize issues and create municipal development plans that foster a sustainable and resilient urban environment. Energy, waste, transportation, communications, housing and infrastructure were all key topics discussed. Additionally, we have become part of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative to further promote sustainable and resilient urban construction in the cities where we operate.

In addition to our community projects and programs, we also strive to offer our clients the products and services they need to meet their goals. In the UK, for example, we opened a new flooring production plant in Kent, England, which could help the government achieve its target of one million new homes by 2020. The new plant, which has already achieved the international ISO 9001 certification, has the capacity to manufacture more than 1.64 million feet (500,000 meters) of pre-cast concrete T beam flooring a year, equivalent to flooring for approximately 4,000 houses.

Looking forward, CEMEX is also evaluating and developing three projects in Mexico with Habitat for Humanity that will impact more than 3,000 people during the first year of the partnership. Pilots are being run in the states of Nuevo Leon, Chiapas, Puebla and Queretaro. Once tested, CEMEX will look to replicate efforts in Mexico and other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This article was adapted from our 2015 Sustainable Development Report. Read the more detailed report here.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. Celebrating its 110th anniversary, CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future.