Switzerland: Holcim has executed projects across its global ready-mix operations under the Aquasave initiative to replace freshwater with recirculated water from industry and treatment plants. The producer is committed to reducing its freshwater withdrawals by 15% per cubic metre of ready-mix concrete between 2020 and 2030.
In Mexico, Holcim México has replaced freshwater with 100% used water from the Compañía Mexicana de Aguas water treatment plant at 12 of its ready-mix concrete batching plants. It is also including used water from the local food and beverage industry in mixes produced at its Lerma, Tlaquepaque and Toluca batching plants. Altogether, Aquasave initiatives carried out by Holcim México saved 95m litres of freshwater in the past 12 months.
Holcim Maroc reduced freshwater withdrawals at its Tit Mellil ready-mix concrete batching plant near Casablanca, Morocco, by 30% after securing a used water supply from a local water treatment plant. Holcim Australia has done likewise at its Kawana ready-mix concrete batching plant in Queensland, with supplementary withdrawals from the municipal water grid. The Kawana plant uses 58l/m3 of freshwater, 68% below Australia’s 2030 target of 180l/m3. In the UAE, Holcim subsidiary Readymix Gulf is using desalinated water in line with municipal standards, as well as treating sewage effluent using its installed reverse osmosis systems. Meanwhile in Ecuador, Holcim Ecuador treats water on site for re-use, including at its San Eduardo batching plant, which aims to save 41,000m3 of freshwater by 2029.
