Environment

Environmental Management

With the aim of continuously improving our environmental footprint, we systematically monitor the environmental performance of our activities, while setting targets for the reduction of air emissions, the protection of biodiversity, the restoration of quarries and the management and recycling of water. Our company participates in a long-term process of collaboration with specialized environmental agencies and stakeholders from local communities, seeking meaningful ways to understand the needs of society and contribute to the positive environmental footprint of the communities in which it operates.

To reduce our environmental footprint, we cover raw material and product conveyor belts and convert them into closed transport systems, reduce leaks, enclose storage areas with natural barriers, use water spraying to wet roads, and focus on the tidiness of our facilities, as well as in road paving, where possible. In addition, we ensure the proper maintenance and optimal operation of our machinery and equipment and apply strict rules for the transportation of materials in and out of our facilities.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity protection and sustainable land management are fundamental elements of our sustainable development strategy. We have developed practices for the restoration of our quarries and the management of biodiversity in sites of high biodiversity value, in accordance with the relevant GCCA (Global Cement and Concrete Association) Guidelines. Our commitment is to contribute to the well-being of local communities and achieve a positive environmental impact wherever possible.

In 2020, TITAN Group updated the biodiversity risk assessment for all its facilities using the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT).
TITAN maintains nurseries at both the Elefsina and Drepano plants in order to meet the annual needs for seedlings for the restoration of INTERBETON quarries. The seedlings that are not used for restoration are donated to organizations (hospitals, schools, municipalities, local communities) that implement tree planting and reforestation programs. In fact, in a symbolic event, in the courtyard of the 3rd High School of Oreokastro, TITAN, in the summer of 2021, planted a pomegranate tree with the number "2,000,000", as that was the number of trees that had been planted by the Company throughout Greece until then, within the framework of the restoration and tree planting program that it has been implementing continuously since 1971.

Water management

Effective water management within and outside our facilities is an important aspect of our environmental performance. Since 2010 we have developed an Integrated Water Management System (IWMS) in all our activities to monitor and optimize water consumption, while we implement water data maintenance and archiving programs in a consistent manner, in accordance with international practices and guidelines of the cement and concrete industry.

At the same time, in 2020, the assessment of water-related risks for all of the Group's facilities was completed through the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Aqueduct tool and the WWF's Water Risk Filter tool.
The results of this assessment will be used to strengthen corporate practices in sustainable water management and develop specific water management plans for facilities in areas of higher relative risk.

Waste

At INTERMIX, we are oriented towards the optimal management of waste generated during our production process, with an emphasis on maximum environmental protection. This implies prioritizing the exhaustion of avoidance, minimization and recycling possibilities during the production process. We then apply the appropriate disposal/management methods in collaboration with licensed companies, complying with applicable legislation.

Waste from production units in the Greek Sector is collected, stored and managed through authorized partners with the aim of reuse, recycling or recovery, in order to achieve high waste management standards and reduce the need for landfill. Although hazardous waste accounts for a small percentage of total waste (approximately 0.1%), its management complies with local requirements.

For two consecutive years, we have managed to eliminate the landfilling of waste resulting from the clinker and cement production process, thus contributing to the conservation of natural resources and addressing climate change. Titan's cement plants in Kamari, Drepano and Efkarpia renewed the Platinum Zero Waste to Landfill circular economy certification they had received in 2021, while the Elefsina plant obtained it in 2022.

At the same time, the distribution and application of INTERMIX products either in a city silo or in a bag ensures clean work that does not pollute the environment, offering the opportunity to recycle the packaging, while the specially designed composition of INTERMIX products achieves high adhesion, significantly reducing the fall of the material and the creation of debris.

Climate change

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our society, which is why we are actively participating in efforts aimed at climate neutrality. We seek to grow by transforming our operations, focusing on resilience and innovation to best serve our customers as we move towards a carbon-neutral world.

The Group's strategy to achieve a neutral carbon footprint is based on a comprehensive action plan to reduce emissions during cement production. This program includes, among other things, the increased use of alternative fuels, the substitution of clinker with cementitious materials with lower carbon emissions, the increase in energy efficiency and the optimization of the raw material mix.

We focus on developing innovative, high-tech, quality products with lower carbon emissions that have a particularly positive impact on people and the environment.

INTERMIX products have Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), verified by an independent accredited body, as well as EMICODE certifications, thus taking another important step on the path towards a sustainable future.

Circular Economy

The circular economy is a reliable, modern proposal for sustainable development, which has multiple benefits for society, the economy and the environment. That is why we actively support it as a business model.

Circular economy is, in simple words, the extension of the life cycle of products, while saving non-renewable natural resources, through the reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery of raw materials, energy and waste.

The cement industry has already actively contributed to the implementation of the circular economy model through different stages of production, as well as through the adoption of synergy practices (industrial symbiosis) with other industries. By promoting the circular economy, we contribute to sustainable development through three axes:

  • Of sustainable construction.
  • Resilient structures for adapting to climate change.
  • The recovery of materials and energy, through the use of alternative raw materials and fuels