Sustainable development
Atmospheric emissions
Monitoring and decreasing atmospheric emissions in cement manufacture are Group priorities. We have already exceeded our 2010 reduction target for specific SO2 emissions in 2009. Due to current economic conditions, our efforts to reduce dust and NOx emissions have focused on implementing primary reduction measures. The target date to achieve a 20% reduction in average specific emissions has thus been revised to 2012 for dust and 2013 for NOx.
Monitoring atmospheric emissions
The installation of continuous emission monitoring devices as well as regular maintenance and training are required by our emissions monitoring and reporting (EMR) standard.
At the end of 2010, the implementation rate of the continuous emission monitors at kiln stacks (excluding India) was 91% (2009: 85%). We make knowledge gained through this work available to local test houses and regulators.
| Other atmospheric emissions - dust, NOX, SO2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of kilns reporting | Average specific concentration (g/tonne cementitious materials) | Total annual emissions (tonnes/a) | |||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Dust | 152 | 137 | 136 | 100 | 90 | 80 | 14,400 | 12,090 | 11,310 |
| NOx | 145 | 133 | 132 | 1,160 | 1,120 | 1,110 | 171,925 | 152,100 | 156,170 |
| SO2 | 143 | 133 | 131 | 330 | 180 | 180 | 49,335 | 24,670 | 24,880 |
A Data presented in this table are only from cement kiln stacks, and do not include other point sources or fugitive emissions which are difficult to estimate.
B Total annual emissions were extrapolated from available data sets to all consolidated kilns. Emissions based on continuous monitoring data represent 84% of NOx emissions, 95% of SO2 emissions and 55% of dust emissions. The remaining emissions are based on spot testing or extrapolation.
| Other atmospheric emissions - Mercury, organics, dioxins / furans | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of kilns reporting | Average specific concentration (g/tonne cementitious materials) | Total annual emissions (tonnes/a) | |||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Mercury | 144 | 126 | 129 | 0.02 | 0.013 | 0.012 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Organics | 141 | 133 | 128 | 56 | 37 | 34 | 8,320 | 5,080 | 4,800 |
| (micrograms TEQ/tonne cementitious materials)c | |||||||||
| Dioxins/furans | 136 | 127 | 129 | 0.04 | 0.038 | 0.019 | 6.0* | 5.2* | 2.7* |
C TEQ: Toxic equivalents - a sum parameter accounting for the relative toxicity of the individual dioxin and furan compounds. In cases where the measurements were below the detection limit, 50% of the detection limit was set as the default value.
* g TEQ/annum
In line with our Cement Sustainability Initiative commitment, data are also reported on grams per tonne of clinker.
| Other atmospheric emissions - per tonne of clinker | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emission component | Number of kilns reporting | Average specific emissions (g/tonne clinker) | Total annual emissions (tonnes/a) | ||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | |
| NOx | 145 | 133 | 132 | 1,590 | 1,560 | 1,540 | 156,170 |
| SO2 | 143 | 133 | 131 | 455 | 253 | 245 | 24,880 |
| Dust | 152 | 137 | 136 | 135 | 124 | 111 | 11,310 |
| Organics | 141 | 133 | 128 | 77 | 52 | 47 | 4,800 |
| Mercury | 144 | 126 | 129 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 1.60 |
| (micrograms TEQ/tonne clinker) | |||||||
| Dioxins/Furans | 136 | 127 | 129 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 2.7* |
* g TEQ/annum
Other CSI Indicators:
| Percentage of clinker production with emission monitoring | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dust | SO2 | NOx | Organics | Mercury | D/F | |
| % clinker production with emission measurements | 100% | 98% | 98% | 97% | 98% | 98% |
| Percentage of clinker produced by kilns that have installed continuous measurements: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust | SO2 | NOx | |
| % clinker production with continuous emission monitoring | 88% | 86% | 85% |


