È stato sottoscritto mercoledì 30 luglio a Casale Monferrato l’atto notarile di cessione gratuita di un’area di proprietà della società Unical (Gruppo Buzzi) nel Parco fluviale del Sabiuné di Chivasso, per un valore nominale complessivo di 100 mila euro circa. L’acquisizione a titolo gratuito e definitivo del patrimonio comunale indisponibile dei terreni è stata autorizzata dal Consiglio comunale di Chivasso mentre la bozza del rogito è stata approvata dalla Giunta Castello. Il Gruppo Buzzi, leader nella produzione di cemento e calcestruzzo, nei mesi scorsi ha eseguito a proprie spese la demolizione di un edificio di due piani, un magazzino, due cabine elettriche in disuso, basamenti vari ed alcune strutture sopra elevate degli ex impianti di betonaggio e selezione inerti, restituendo ad area libera ed usufruibile circa 23 ettari di superficie complessiva.
Come concordato nel protocollo d’intesa siglato dall’amministratore delegato di Unical, Roberto Belloni e dal sindaco di Chivasso Claudio Castello, adesso potranno essere avviate le azioni di ripristino della viabilità esistente per uso ciclopedonale e di riutilizzo delle viabilità poderali e dei sentieri esistenti. Sarà dunque ribadita la vocazione ricreativo-naturalistico dell’area che troverà concretezza nel finanziamento di circa mezzo milione di euro ottenuto dall’amministrazione comunale in seno al bando regionale “Implementazione della biodiversità sul territorio della Regione Piemonte”, nell’ambito del programma per i Fondi Europei di Sviluppo Regionale 2021/2027. La Giunta Castello, su proposta dell’assessore Fabrizio Debernardi, aveva deliberato il progetto in coerenza con la passata amministrazione in cui era assessore all’Ambiente l’attuale vice sindaco Pasquale Centin.
Per la consegna dell’area il presidente di Unical Paolo Zelano, nel pomeriggio dello stesso 30 luglio, è stato accolto dal sindaco Claudio Castello a Chivasso, che ha attestato ancora una volta la gratitudine della Città di Chivasso per la sensibilità ambientale dimostrata.
“Restituiamo alla natura e ai cittadini – ha detto Castello – una parte di territorio che presentava le contraddizioni di un passato industriale dal quale sia amministratori pubblici coscienti che imprenditori responsabili oggi si sono emancipati. L’approccio collaborativo del Gruppo Buzzi determina una virtuosa continuità ambientale in uno dei parchi cittadini che fanno parte della cosiddetta Corona Verde su cui stiamo investendo risorse comunali e finanziamenti esterni che premiano le nostre progettualità a tutela della biodiversità e contro i rischi climatici”.
Per l’assessore all’Ambiente Fabrizio Debernardi “gli ettari acquisiti dopo anni di trattative, oltre a rappresentare un risultato storico per Chivasso, confermano l’impegno degli uffici comunali e della volontà politica. Da oggi partirà il progetto Biodiversità con importanti obiettivi quali la riqualificazione naturalistica, il contenimento delle specie alloctone invasive, aree umide e l’implementazione della sentieristica di importanza locale e dei percorsi didattico-formativi”.

Paolo Zelano sottolinea come la cessione dell’area confermi l’impegno di Unical, e di tutto il Gruppo Buzzi, nella responsabilità sociale verso i territori in cui opera. “Siamo lieti – ha detto - di aver raggiunto un accordo di reciproca soddisfazione con l’amministrazione comunale di Chivasso che contribuisce alla riqualificazione di un’area che torna ad essere patrimonio pubblico a beneficio della collettività.”
 

The new edition of the Stakeholder Engagement report shows the activities in the plants, after the years conditioned by the pandemic.
The document describes the various projects that the company has carried out throughout the country, reaching more than 9,000 stakeholders.

In addition to various cultural and social activities, particular effort was put into the training with schools on the climate change matter and other topics.
“High 5” has been a winning project also in 2022, involving 135 students with more than 11,000 hours of training at the plants and at Casale Monferrato headquarters.

Read the complete report here.
 

On Monday, September 26, the official inauguration of Built, Buzzi Unicem's new technological innovation laboratory, was held in Vercelli at the San Giuseppe complex of the University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO).
Built (Buzzi Unicem Innovation Lab and Technology) represents the highest evolutionary stage of the company's Research & Development, and joins other existing entities such as the plants' labs and the Wilhelm Dyckerhoff Institut in Wiesbaden, Germany. 
Attended by several authorities and academics (including UPO Rector Gian Carlo Avanzi) as well as the Mayor of Vercelli Andrea Corsaro, the event was organized to officially present the partnership agreement between the university and Buzzi Unicem and to showcase the potential of the new laboratory, which has already been active since January.
In addition to the location in the modern spaces of the San Giuseppe complex, the agreement stipulated in 2018 provides for synergistic activities between basic research and the industrial sector's application approach. UPO can expand its curriculum in materials science and technology by providing students and researchers with study and work experience in the corporate environment, while Built is happy to welcome and cultivate projects for the development of innovative and highly sustainable building materials.
Built is organized across two floors, with a large room dedicated to concrete testing, a chemistry and physics lab equipped with numerous state-of-the-art instruments for materials characterization, a chemical laboratory accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025:2018, and a mortar lab. Temperature- and humidity-controlled curing chambers for curing specimens and specific areas for mills and crushers have also been provided. Twelve chemical technicians and researchers with scientific backgrounds currently work in the lab.

“We are very pleased to inaugurate this facility,” said the technical director Luigi Buzzi, “as it represents not just a simple laboratory, but a new way of working to meet the complex challenges of the future, from the decarbonization of the production process to the search for increasingly high-performance and sustainable binding agents."

The Director Fulvio Canonico added: “The lab is fully operational, and we are satisfied with the results of our work and the contribution to innovation we make to the group. The atmosphere in Built is very stimulating, partly because of the possibility of interacting with the university campus around us."
The presentation concluded PhD Day, dedicated to the awarding of PhDs organized by UPO as part of Research Week. 

On Thursday the 29th, Built will be the scene of the UPO Junior activity "Getting to know the material that builds the world - concrete," with guests including about 100 students from the area's elementary and secondary schools.
 

An audio-visual artwork starting with the installation "PASSI" (STEPS) by the renowned artist Alfredo Pirri, through the performance of Buzzi Unicem employees 

"VICE VERSĀ" is about to land toward the Paraboloid, symbol of the history of cement. This project originated in the spring of 2021 from Alfredo Pirri's installation entitled "PASSI," presented at the Maniace Castle in Syracuse (curated by Helga Marsala and produced by ADITUS for the Superintendency of Syracuse). 
On Friday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. a temporary space dedicated to the meeting between art and industrial archaeology will be inaugurated in the presence of Federico Riboldi, Mayor of Casale Monferrato, of the Institutions, of Buzzi Unicem's Association "il Cemento" - promoter of the initiative - of the artists and of the citizens, and will be available for use for the entire weekend, from 6 p.m. until midnight.
This event will be the first example to launch the Paraboloid towards a path of revitalization, turning it into a multipurpose facility and cultural center. 

"VICE VERSĀ" an audio/video artwork resulting from a collaboration between the artist Alfredo Pirri, the filmmaker and musician Pietro Leone and the curator and art critic Helga Marsala, develops thanks to the dialogue between the imposing medieval architecture of the Maniace Castle - which hosted the "STEPS" installation in recent months - and the Buzzi Unicem plant in Augusta. 
After a lectio magistralis by Pirri, held at the premises of the Sicilian factory and dedicated to the company's employees, speaking about the reinvention of reality through contemporary art, the setting moved to the Maniace Castle involving some of the employees in a performance, guided by Pirri to interact with the surfaces, spaces, lights and memory of the venue, in a collective gesture of appropriation: walking on the mirrors of the Hypostyle Hall, drawing the paths of new fractures, in order to contribute to the reinterpretation and rewriting of the space, altered at every glance and at every step.
In an unusual correlation, the experience inside the grand Hypostyle Hall is then reflected in the industrial site of Augusta, creating an exchange of volumes, presences, sounds, and suggestions. It is an enthralling dialogue between two "theaters," where the transformation of things (whether raw materials, images, history, technical or humanistic knowledge) becomes a dramaturgy of processes, objects, human relations.

Thinking of the Paraboloid as an exceptional place for promoting a project, whose focus is on artistic experimentation, as well as on the relationship between art and the working world, is a way to symbolically launch this building in a new direction, under the sign of local identity, culture and the deep-rooted relationship with the company. Prior to the upcoming conservative restoration work, the intention would thus be to celebrate its current charm, rich in memory and images of the past, together with the power of industrial and architectural innovation processes, while waiting for the complete renovation of the spaces, underpinning a new life.

The set-up area of the Paraboloid will be open to the public, with free admission, on May 20-21-22 from 6 p.m. until midnight. 

A visit to Casale Monferrato, Buzzi Unica’s headquarters, to witness the restoration of the stunning Piedmontese Baroque-style church.

On Friday 8 April, the Council for the Enhancement of the Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Turin, the Council for the Enhancement of the Artistic and Cultural Heritage of the city of Alessandria and its surrounding area, the Associazione Santa Caterina Onlus and Buzzi Unicem met in Casale Monferrato to discuss the project for the restoration and enhancement of the Church of Santa Caterina.
The meeting began at the historic headquarters of the Buzzi Unicem Group, a partner company that has been a major supporter of projects aimed at enhancing Piedmont's artistic heritage since 1997. 
Here, guests were able to visit the multimedia room, a latest-generation installation that showcases the company's history, various technical information and several projects related to sustainability as wells research and development.
This was followed by a work progress meeting and by a visit to the Church of Santa Caterina, a gem of Piedmontese Baroque art. 
Thanks to the commitment of the non-profit organization Associazione Santa Caterina Onlus and its supporters, Buzzi Unicem in primis, the Church is returning to its original splendor: after the restoration of the dome, the drum, the lantern and the pitched roofs, the restoration project of the facade has begun. The contribution of the Councils will also allow to tackle the upcoming restoration of the internal frescos of the major dome.

“We are deeply honored to have been able to welcome the visit of the Councils for the Enhancement of the Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Turin and Alessandria to the Santa Caterina site - said Marina Buzzi Pogliano, President of the Associazione Santa Caterina Onlus. Their support, which complements and integrates that of the banking foundations, sponsors, and donors, is crucial not only for Santa Caterina Onlus and for the attainment of the goal of restoring the frescoes of the dome, but for the entire city, whose beautifully restored Baroque monument will be a beacon shedding light on all of the city's treasures and riches, which are still too under-appreciated.
Participants expressed their satisfaction for the achieved results, the product of a meticulous work of restoration and enhancement of the Church.
 

Buzzi Unicem presents the 21st edition of its Sustainability Report, a document that describes its economic, environmental and social performance in 2021.

During the past year, the Company continued its support, at the global level, for communities affected by the Covid-19 emergency, donating €1.5 million through various humanitarian organizations operating in the countries where it operates.

In spite of the global emergency situation and a substantial increase in costs in the second half of the year, production volumes improved and financial results maintained the excellent level attained in the previous year. In addition, 2021 was the year of publication of the GCCA (Global Cement and Concrete Association) roadmap. Buzzi Unicem actively participated in drafting this document, sharing its objectives. The GCCA roadmap presents the gradual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the achievement of climate neutrality by the year 2050. Buzzi Unicem is currently working on the definition of its strategic plan, aimed at setting new targets for the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

The Sustainability Report discloses information according to the European Taxonomy Regulation and the climate change risk assessment in line with the recommendations of the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures).

The Company confirms its commitment to pursue health and safety objectives for the protection of its employees, with more than 50% of training hours provided on these issues.

In this context of major and significant changes, Buzzi Unicem reaffirms to operate with a view to innovation and progress, attracting and holding on to young talent, promoting meritocracy and teamwork, and sharing with its stakeholders a strategic vision in line with the objectives of sustainable development.

Buzzi Unicem presents the second edition of the "Stakeholder Engagement Report", which describes the activities aimed at stakeholders carried out during 2021.
Inclusion, transparency, and focus on social issues and the environment are some of the principles underlying stakeholder engagement initiatives, which are conducted in collaboration with local entities and associations with the goal of creating new spaces for listening and fostering dialogue with the local territory.
The Report illustrates the widespread involvement of our stakeholders through collaborative events and activities aimed at supporting underprivileged or differently abled people, as well as culture, sports, and the arts.
The cement plants are an integral and integrated part of the local territory and provide a venue for debates and meetings aimed at identifying feasible and tangible projects. 
The production units are also involved in educational projects: they host visits and training courses for students from schools and universities, with the objective of illustrating the production cycle, the techniques employed and the technological innovation. 
The creation and sharing of value continue to be the key principles underpinning the Company's activities, where the building of relationships based on trust is of primary importance in the synergic process of collective growth. 
 

Buzzi Unicem launches on the Italian and German markets the new product line called CGreen, a family of CO₂ efficient cements. 
In keeping with the sustainability policies that distinguish the company and with the aim of meeting the targets of the future ecological transition, CGreen marks the natural evolution of Buzzi Unicem's hydraulic binders, continuing in the footsteps of a long tradition of high-quality, high-performance products.
The CGreen line was developed by selecting suitable active additions, partially replacing clinker, optimizing grinding and mixing conditions and using new generation additives, at the same time keeping the required technical performance. 

"The ecological transition", explains Antonio Buzzi, Chief Operating Officer Cemento Italia, "calls for us to adapt our behaviors and actions in order to neutralize our carbon footprint: we all have a responsibility to reduce CO₂ emissions, which are considered a key factor in amplifying the greenhouse effect and, consequently, climate change. This transition, therefore, implies the partial or total redesign of production processes, distribution systems and consumption patterns, heralding the start of a potential industrial revolution and a change in our habits".
So, in order to meet this challenge and involve the entire supply chain, the company aims at innovation with a line of products duly selected and suited to contain their environmental footprint.

Starting from the Global Warming Potential (GWP) indicator, which indicates the carbon footprint of each individual binder, the Italian CGreen cements were reclassified and organized, highlighting through this new line those products with the best environmental performance. In addition, like all Buzzi Unicem's cements, the CGreen cements are also accompanied by Environmental Product Declarations, obtained through the EPD certification system, which guarantees full transparency and representativeness of the environmental performance of the product throughout its life cycle. 
CGreen will be the distinguishing trademark for low carbon footprint cements in all countries where the group operates. In particular today, Dyckerhoff ECO COMFORT and Dyckerhoff CEDUR cements, launched on the German market, join the CGreen family.

Dirk Beese, Managing Director Dyckerhoff GmbH: “The CGreen cements Dyckerhoff ECO COMFORT and CEDUR are our new cements with a carbon footprint up to 39% lower compared to standard Portland cements. These cements are our solution to the increasing demand for CO2 efficient cements in our markets.”
CGreen represents a further step towards the achievement of energy transition objectives, which the company pursues also by investing in projects for the reduction of all emissions and for the development of technologies aimed at capturing and re-using CO₂.

For more details on CGreen line products:

CGreen product line Italy 

CGreen Dyckerhoff Germany 

Italgas and Buzzi Unicem have signed an agreement for the development of a feasibility study on the implementation of Power to Gas plants in combination with Carbon Capture Systems at Buzzi Unicem's production plants.

The implementation of these technologies is aimed at promoting the decarbonization of cement and concrete production processes in order to increase environmental sustainability and facilitate the energy transition. In particular, the study will assess the possibility of producing and using, in the most suitable Buzzi Unicem plants, synthetic methane obtained from the combination of green hydrogen produced by the Power to Gas plants with part of the CO₂ released in the production processes.

The agreement leverages on the solid experience gained by Italgas with the development of a Power to Gas project in Sardinia to produce green hydrogen with the aim of testing its uses also in urban contexts, in public transport and in supplying local energy-intensive industries.

"We strongly believe in Power to Gas technology – Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas affirmed - and in its strategic contribution to the energy transition in terms of sector coupling. The production of hydrogen from renewable sources enables the use of gas networks in the dual function of carrier and energy storage asset, ensuring greater flexibility to the system. The agreement represents a great opportunity for us to take a further step forward in the study of innovative solutions and technological best practices. Therefore, we are pleased to share with Buzzi Unicem the know-how we have developed in the design of the Italgas P2G plant that will be built in Sardinia, creating the first technological showcase of the green hydrogen production chain in Italy".

Luigi Buzzi, Group Technical Director at Buzzi Unicem, confirms that "we are very interested in the opportunity to collaborate with Italgas as an experienced partner to develop a project that is fully integrated into our industrial investment plan aimed at identifying technologies for capturing and reusing the CO₂ released by our plants, in line with the roadmaps defined by industry associations.
Our aim is to responsibly contribute to containing climate change by developing CO₂ capture technologies and identifying the best solutions for its reuse. We are currently experimenting with Calcium Looping technology for capturing the carbon dioxide released by the production process at our plant in Vernasca (PC). Thanks to the EU Horizon 2020 project "CLEANKER" (CLEAN- clinKER), it will be possible to assess the technical and economic sustainability of this technology and estimate the changes to the plant and the investments required to adopt this process in existing cement plants.
We are ready to face the ecological transition with great determination and motivated to start the Power to Gas project with Italgas soon, hoping that this new technology can be adopted on a large scale in the future".

The Paraboloide of Casale Monferrato, one of the most distinctive and recognizable traces of the production history of the Monferrato Casalese area, thanks to the support of the "The Association Cement in the identity of Monferrato Casalese", which includes private and public members, is a landmark in the recovery and urban integration process of Casale's production past, opening a door to the future.
In fact, the project for strategic recovery of the Paraboloide has been funded, with the aim of protecting the property and reintegrating it into urban and social life, as well as emphasizing its historical traces and features, so that it can finally be returned to the city of Casale Monferrato as part of a systemic network.

The valorization of the Paraboloide also provides an opportunity to work in a residential area of Casale Monferrato wedged between the railway and the park of the Cittadella, fragmented and poorly connected to the city center, with the intention of becoming the cornerstone of a veritable urban regeneration, for a sustainable and integrated city, according to the best parameters of environmental, economic, and social quality.

The recovery project will enable the Municipality of Casale Monferrato, which owns the property, to take part in the national competition for the allocation of grants to Municipalities for investments in urban regeneration projects. 

The building is a "significant example of industrial archaeology in reinforced concrete from the 1920s, a typical example in terms of the type of construction, techniques and materials used", as underlined by the declaration of cultural interest (DDR – Director Document for Reconstruction no. 163 of 14 June 2011) that sanctions its protection. The roof, a sequence of parabolic arches allowing a free plan and an airy, light volume, is the result of daring twentieth-century experiments with concrete. the Paraboloide of Casale Monferrato is the first real Italian example of this type of design, subsequently developed and expanded by iconic figures such as Pier Luigi Nervi.

The building will be renovated according to the "Guidelines for the Project of Recovery and Seismic Improvement of the Paraboloide of Casale" drawn up by the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering of the Polytechnic Institute of Turin in 2018. 
The deterioration phenomena with consequent structural inefficiency will be counteracted by widespread consolidation works, using the Beton Plaqué technique. 
The existing chains, added following renovations carried out during the second half of the 20th century, will be replaced with steel chains at the level of the existing floor. 
The external tower, 16 meters high and strongly characterizing the north-eastern elevation, will be secured and structurally connected to the main body of the building. Following the restoration, the latter will be used as a covered square and will be equipped with new multi-purpose spaces designed indoors, connected to the entrance level by a new stairwell, and with a renovated pathway to the upper walkway.
The adjacent area will be redeveloped using greenery as an "architectural material", offering spaces for outdoor sports and social activities, in line with the Citadel's green system and the interior of the building. On the south-west side, the building will be "isolated" from the surrounding looming residences by an embankment, a sort of green amphitheater accessible to the public. On the other hand, the part facing the park of the Cittadella will be lined with green paths and equipped with a projecting roof for sports activities.
 

The key cement plant figures for 2020 are available, reported in individual brochures that can be downloaded from this link as well as obtainable in paper form during plant visits. 

The purpose is to inform our stakeholders about Buzzi Unicem production site activities from both a strictly operational standpoint as well as our presence within the community. More specifically, the data are organized into two main areas, namely the specific figures for each plant and the overall figures for the Group. 
The individual plant figures focus on the environment, employee accidents, events involving the plant and atmospheric emissions. 

The environmental data include the tons of recovered raw materials (circular economy), the kilowatt hours consumed to produce one ton of cementitious material, the megacalories used to produce one ton of clinker, and the environment and safety investments made during the 2018-2020 three-year period. With respect to the atmospheric emissions, we report the figures for dust, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. 

The overall Group figures include the key data for Buzzi Unicem S.p.A, the certifications obtained and the Group’s policies. 

A seguito del confronto avviato con le Organizzazioni Sindacali e le RSU, conseguente all’annuncio della cessazione delle attività dello stabilimento di Greve in Chianti (FI) e del Centro di macinazione di Arquata Scrivia (AL), in data odierna è stato raggiunto un accordo condiviso tra le parti.
La chiusura della trattativa ha privilegiato soluzioni a sostegno dell’impiego, prevedendo la ricollocazione dei lavoratori, mettendo a disposizione oltre 100 posizioni di lavoro a tempo indeterminato presso altre unità operative del gruppo, nonché specifiche azioni aggiuntive di mitigazione sotto forma di contributi per alloggio, trasloco, spese di viaggio.
Sono stati predisposti, inoltre, percorsi di outplacement fino a 36 mesi, una “dote assunzione” a favore di potenziali datori di lavoro sul territorio, percorsi di formazione e adeguamento delle competenze e la prelazione in caso di nuove assunzioni, presso le società del Gruppo in Toscana e Piemonte fino al 15 settembre 2024.
Per sostenere ulteriormente coloro che non fossero nelle condizioni di poter accettare le posizioni disponibili all’interno dell’azienda, sono state concordate forme di sostegno alternative. 
Le persone che continueranno il percorso professionale all’interno dell’azienda saranno sostenute nell’affrontare la nuova realtà, al fine di proseguire una collaborazione proficua nel tempo.
Buzzi Unicem conclude ribadendo il proprio impegno ad operare con una visione a lungo termine e continua a dialogare con le Istituzioni in maniera costruttiva su temi di natura strategica per il territorio. 
 

Since 2003, the non-profit organization has been working to promote and support research and diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases, as well as the testing of therapies and targeted projects.

Founded in 2003 in Casale Monferrato upon the initiative of Buzzi Unicem S.p.A., The Buzzi Unicem Onlus Foundation has been promoting and supporting for the last 18 years measures aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma, a particularly aggressive tumor caused by environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos.
This serious disease is a social phenomenon with extremely alarming effects, especially in the Casale area, which in the past was the site of industrial processes for the production of products containing asbestos.
The Foundation fulfils its statutory commitments through measures for the research, diagnosis and treatment of Malignant mesothelioma, financing projects suggested by researchers from Universities, Research Institutes and Health Authorities and dedicated to scientific research applied to prevention systems and direct actions on patients aimed at early diagnosis and treatment.
The non-profit organization cooperates with the public sector, channeling funding to projects that best enable the pooling of ideas, experience and resources in order to facilitate processes that provide the right solutions to the clinician, the ideal link between science and the patient. 
Today, the Foundation supports 8 active research projects in collaboration with various organizations throughout Italy, relentlessly pursuing the fight against this serious disease. The Foundation's support comes from voluntary donations and from the “5x1000”, a donation made through one’s tax return (tax code 02007580067), which are crucial for financing both new research projects and those already underway. 

For further information on the Buzzi Unicem Foundation, please visit the website at fondazionebuzziunicem.org.
 

The 2020 edition of Buzzi Unicem’s Sustainability report was presented today.

In addition to accurate reporting of economic, environmental and social indicators, the document also provides an update on objectives and targets, in line with the policies promoted by the company.

From an economic standpoint, the financial results show an improvement on the levels achieved in 2019 despite the difficulties related to the health emergency. The company hopes that both the vaccination plans and the economic stimulus announced by governments will strengthen demand for the sector and contribute to growth.

On the environmental level, the report illustrates the Group's commitment to reducing CO2 which in absolute value, in 2020, was down mainly due to a lower production of clinker and a lower use of electricity.

The year 2021 will be crucial for the definition of new targets for the reduction of CO₂ emissions in the medium term, while the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, already announced by Cembureau - the European Cement Manufacturers' Association - could also be confirmed by the end of the year by the global association GCCA (Global Cement and Concrete Association), of which Buzzi Unicem is a member. For the company this is a complex and stimulating challenge, which it does not want to shy away from.

Social performance highlights the results of good practices in terms of health and safety at work and confirms the downward trend in workplace accidents in recent years. In addition, in order to mitigate the problems related to the health emergency, the company has decided to help people in difficulty in the countries where the Group's plants operate by donating over € 3 million to provide tangible help, in collaboration with various non-profit organizations.

Lastly, the company noticed that interest in non-financial information is growing and thus reiterates its commitment to constantly improving the quality and level of detail of non-financial information.

The pandemic has affected all continents, albeit to varying degrees, and has forced us to deal with an anomalous situation that has put and is still putting everyone to the test, significantly penalizing the most vulnerable layers of society. The heavy repercussions caused by the COVID-19 emergency have exacerbated the inequalities already existing in our country and around the world and, as a company, we wish to do our part in providing tangible help to those in difficult situations.

This is why Buzzi Unicem has decided to promote an initiative involving all the countries in which it operates, aimed at supporting a number of non-profit organizations in each region.

With a one-off donation distributed proportionally among all the Group's operating facilities in the various continents in which it operates, the company has chosen to directly support the weakest sections of the population, providing real assistance to the basic needs of individuals and families through the support of non-profit organizations (more than 70) that work in favor of the weakest, both nationally and internationally.

The areas of interest include disbursements for food expenses, utilities, rent, help for single women with children and much more, in favor of the most vulnerable categories.

Each plant has been in contact with the beneficiary entity in order to assess the intended use of funds and the most appropriate areas of intervention for the local context in which it operates and will follow, with the support of Stakeholder Engagement, the reporting of individual projects.

Fully aware of how much this emergency situation is lasting beyond expectations, we hope that a commitment of this nature and scope may minimize the distress of many categories and help our territories along the path to recovery.

Faced with the COVID-19 emergency, the Buzzi Unicem Foundation has undertaken to finance a pilot study on home monitoring in the Casale Monferrato and Turin areas, coordinated by the Mario Negri Institute.

The choice of the project reflected the spirit of the Foundation and of the Buzzi family to offer the Piedmont territory a quality and scientifically-valid service, in aid of the current healthcare emergency.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms, who on medical advice were not referred directly to the emergency room, had access to the study. For all of them it was possible to be followed at home by a team of physiotherapists, properly trained and equipped with all medical devices, who carried out daily monitoring of the respiratory function, using a saturimeter, subjecting the patient to a "walking test" and agreed with the referring physicians the possible and progressive hospitalization.

The Crisis Unit of the Mario Negri Institute, under the coordination of Dr. Guido Bertolini, arranged for the collection and processing of data and for the logistical coordination of the entire project.

The Buzzi Unicem Foundation undertook to fully finance the project, which had a positive outcome with a significant number of monitored cases.

Buzzi Unicem, in partnership with Leardi High School in Casale Monferrato (AL), has launched highly professional training courses for the three-year period 2019-2021, conceived for the course entitled "Construction, Environment and Territory".

The project will cover various topics such as the characteristics and quality of construction materials, construction site knowledge and notions of operating techniques, technologies and know-how related to concrete.

"We strongly believe in this project and in the training of students - underline Daniele Bogni and Monica Baratto, coordinators in charge of the project and Plant Manager and Territory Relations Representative, respectively, for Buzzi Unicem - because we consider it a priority to promote these kinds of activities aimed at distributing value throughout the territory, not only at the local but also at the national level".
 

“CAT" students will alternate between classroom learning and on-the-job training, where they will understand the complexity of the cement industry and examine in depth how the most sophisticated technologies are used to guarantee a product with high quality and safety standards.
Among the many topics being covered during the course, the ones that stand out are: sustainability, circular economy, research into new materials and alternative fuels.                   
 

The project includes a visit to the Buzzi Unicem plants of Vernasca (PC) and Robilante (CN), the latter being a virtuous example of circular economy because it uses Solid Secondary Fuels as alternative fuels.
Great satisfaction for the initiative was expressed by the teachers of the Leardi High School, Fausto Milano and Laura Catalano, who pointed out that the proposed training path integrates the disciplinary skills of students and allows, thanks to this process of in-depth study, to successfully enter a context in which professions are increasingly specific and interconnected.