Cemex's Social Responsibility Initiatives

By providing value added services, Cemex earned the trust of poor people and helped them in realizing their dream of building their own house. Before the launch of the program, it took 16 years for the poor family on an average, to build a four-room house. In normal circumstances, it took four years to build a room. After the launch of the program, one room could now be built in one and a half years. The program also benefited the 'promoters' as it helped them to earn more money. For every member they enrolled, the program rewarded them with 48 points (1 point = 1 peso). The program rewarded the promoters depending on the commitment of the partners. If a partner stayed with the program for 30 weeks, the promoter was rewarded 32 points...

These initiatives not only helped the company to build better relationships with local communities but also enhanced its image among its stakeholders. It helped the company innovate new products based on its understanding of local cultures. Such initiatives were also important for the sustainable development of the company. Cemex's Patrimonio Hoy program proved that a company could do profitable business while serving the society. By implementing this program, Cemex emerged as the only company in the cement industry in Mexico to tap the low-income market segment profitably. Cemex's initiatives on environmental conservation fetched the company many local and national awards in the areas in which its plants operated...