November 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
16
Leading construction chemicals
producer, Chryso Southern
Africa, has instituted several key
actions to limit the company’s
impact on the environment.
environment
THE INDEX ANNUALLY
assesses and com-
pares companies on their sustainability
work. The index has analysed the compa-
nies on factors such as the extent to which
long-term economic, environmental and
social aspects have played a role in shap-
ing strategy. Other factors include meeting
shareholders’ demands for sound financial
returns and transparent financial accounting,
and setting the highest standards of corporate
governance and stakeholder engagement.
It is the third year in a row that DJSI has
selected Atlas Copco for inclusion.
“We are very proud to once again be
included in the Dow Jones Sustainability
Index,” says Mala Chakraborti, Atlas Copco’s
vice president corporate responsibility.
“It highlights the hard work we do to be
highly productive in a sustainable way.”Ear-
lier this year Atlas Copcowas acknowledged
as one of the world’s most sustainable com-
panies in the Global 100 list presented at the
World Economic Forum, as well as ranked
one of the most ethical companies by
Ethisphere Institute. Atlas Copco was also
named a ‘Leader’ by the FTSE4Good index
on environmental, social and governance
practices, and was included in business
magazine Forbes’s list of the world’s 100
most innovative companies.
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NICOLAS WOLF, MD OF
Chryso Southern
Africa, says Chryso is pro-active in terms of
sustainability for the development of new
products, as well as its production facilities
and processes. It is also well on track to obtain
accreditation next year for its ISO 14001 Envi-
ronmental Management System.
“Chryso Southern Africa carefullymanages
the amount of hazardous and volatile products
used in our manufacturing operations andwe
have a programme in place in our Research &
Development department to replace all such
environmentally-toxic ingredients with safer
and greener alternatives.
“As part of Chryso’s recycling iniative, all
three plants in Jet Park, Cape Town and Dur-
ban, have waste disposal areas demarcated
for glass, wood, metal and plastic. The plants
optimise natural resources regarding waste
watermanagement, rainwater catchment, and
sludge waste management.
“There are strategically placed catchment
areas in the plants to prevent any admixtures
from running into sewers and contaminating
ground water.
“Chryso is committed to reducing its
energy consumption, withparticular emphasis
on electricity. Where possible, products are
distributed in recycled packaging. To reduce
our carbon footprint in the transportation of
our products, we offer bulk deliveries with
maximum load capacity where possible.
“The company is continually expanding
its geographic presence, moving closer to
customers to minimise delivery distances.
To date, Chryso Southern Africa has three
plants and seven branches throughout the
country,”Wolf adds.
The admixture producer is also striving
to expand its range of environmentally
friendly products. Included in the range
of products recently developed according
to ‘green’ eco-design principles, are a bio-
degradable vegetable-based demoulding
oil, aqueous-based surface retarders, non-
hazardous agents to clean concrete drums
and containers, as well as dustless Thin Skin
Liners for mining operations.
“Chryso has furthermore introduced, and
patented, its ‘Enviromix’ technology aimed at
boosting the use of cement extenders, such as
fly ash and slagment, without compromising
on the quality of concrete or cement produced
by our customers.
“This enables our customers to reduce
their carbon footprint by using less clinker in
the production of cement, and the optimised
use of cement in themanufacture of concrete,”
Wolf explains.
The company is also fully committed to the
Health and Safety of its employees andencour-
ages staff to reduce their carbon footprint
- both at work and at home. Chryso’s holding
company, the Materis Group, has an annual
Health and Safety Day that is strictly observed
in all its operations worldwide. Chryso South-
ern Africa is working towards a goal of zero
accidents and continues to invest in employee
safety training and skills development.
i
On Dow Jones Sustainability Index again
Atlas Copco, a leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions,
was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 2013/2014.
The index lists the world’s leading sustainability-driven companies.
Environmental protection a top priority
Chryso Southern Africa subsidiary, a.b.e. Construction Chemicals, manufactures cementitious products from a
specially-adapted dustless powder plant in Boksburg.
a . b . e . C o n s t r u c t i o n
Chemicals, part of the Chryso
Southern Africa Group, is now
supplying the first dustless
mortars, grouts, plaster, and
self-levelling cementitious
products in Africa from a spe-
cially-adapted powder plant
in Boksburg.
The dustless product con-
cept has – after many years
of research and development
– been patented by the Parex
Group, a subsidiary of the
Materis Group, the Chryso SA
Group’s French holding com-
pany. Parex has awarded a.b.e.
with the only African licence
tomanufacture and distribute
the dustless, environmentally-
friendly range of products.
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