Cemex's Social Responsibility Initiatives

The sustainability report of Cemex reviewed its environmental performance and its progress each year in the following areas - eco-efficiency program, air emissions control program, reforestation and green areas program, natural resources conservation program, relations with communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In 1990, Cemex incurred heavy expenses on fuel and electricity. At that time, Mexican cement manufacturers were facing regular power failures and had to pay about 60% more for power than the US did. In 1994, Cemex launched the Cemex Ecoefficiency Program (CEP) in order to balance its business and environmental interests. The main purpose of the CEP was to protect the environment by using alternative sources of energy...

Cemex had been performing extremely well in Mexico till the Mexican crisis in 1994-95. After the crisis, the regulatory barriers protecting Mexico's cement industry were relaxed, resulting in the entry of foreign cement manufacturers into the country. As a result, the market share of domestic companies began to fall. Cemex noticed a significant decline in its domestic sales. The revenues from the organized sector comprising large corporate customers and middle-and upper-income individuals dropped by 50%. However, the revenues from the unorganized sector comprising of low-income, do-it-yourself homebuilders dropped by a lower figure of 10%-15%...