HONOREE SIZE & INDUSTRY: Enterprise  – Construction and Manufacturing

Texan by Nature is excited to recognize CEMEX in the 2020 TxN 20. CEMEX was also recognized in the 2019 TxN 20 for their efforts in conservation and sustainability that positively impact Texas’ communities, economic prosperity, and natural resources. Read their 2019 write-up.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

CEMEX is one of the largest global building materials companies in the world, providing products and services to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. With their global headquarters located in Monterrey, Mexico, and their U.S. headquarters based in Houston, Texas, the company is a strategically positioned leader in the manufacturing and distribution of cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete. CEMEX’s leadership goes beyond building materials. The company is an industry leader in sustainability as well, with their sustainability model being embedded in all aspects of their business strategy and day-to-day operations.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS STRATEGY

For CEMEX, reaching environmental excellence is one of its main objectives. The company dedicates significant efforts to address key sustainability-related issues, from biodiversity and conservation to renewable energy and emissions monitoring. CEMEX’s vision to “Build a Better Future” for all their stakeholders can be achieved only by acting responsibly and transparently—while caring for people, communities, and natural resources. CEMEX invests directly and through collaborative relationships to fulfill this vision.

CEMEX annually restores over 1,230 acres of land globally, including more than 98 acres of priority biodiversity habitat. Additionally, for every acre of land under operations, CEMEX has 20.8 acres of land in conservation at its El Carmen Nature Reserve.

In 2019, CEMEX achieved the following globally:

• 30% of power in cement supplied by renewable energy
• 22.4% reduction in specific CO2 emissions vs. 1990
• 93% of quarries with high biodiversity value implemented Biodiversity Action Plans
• And much more!

EMPLOYEE LEADERSHIP

CEMEX attributes the success of its conservation efforts to outside collaboration, conservation partnerships, and several internal sustainability stewards. In Texas, CEMEX collaborates with universities, such as Texas A&M, local educators, students, conservation experts, and NGOs, along with a variety of governmental agencies to select activities that best meet the needs of the given region’s biodiversity challenges, ensuring it contributes to areas of greatest conservation need.

Internally, the following individuals are integral to the success of CEMEX Texas’ conservation efforts:

• Scott Ducoff, CEMEX, Regional President – Texas Region
• Billy Pat McKinney, El Carmen Land & Conservation Co., Manager
• Bonnie McKinney, El Carmen Land & Conservation Co., Wildlife Coordinator
• Lance Griffin, CEMEX, Director of Aggregates – Texas Region
• Janet Krolczyk, CEMEX, Environmental Director – Texas Region
• Adam Slusser, CEMEX, Balcones Quarry Operations Manager

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

El Carmen Land and Conservation Co.

El Carmen Land and Conservation Co. (ECLCC) is a partnership between CEMEX, Inc. and landowner, Josiah Austin, formed to manage an approximately 27,000 acre landscape-scale conservation area along the Texas-Mexico border. The ECLCC lands are part of the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem, which has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. ECLCC’s mission is to retain the natural desert landscape and protect a vital trans-national wildlife corridor in the Big Bend Region by restoring native wildlife and birds to sustainable population levels through proactive land restoration, water development, and habitat enrichment.

The strategic location of the ECLCC conservation area links large tracts of contiguous lands on a transboundary level, providing critical protection for the free movement of wildlife such as American black bear, desert bighorn, mule deer, and a host of small mammals. It also protects the bird migration corridor in both spring and fall. ECLCC is home to 256 species of birds, some of which are considered rare for the area; a pair of the formerly listed endangered American Peregrine Falcon; and 11 black bears, including two female bears with yearling cubs, among other species. 

The landscape is typical Chihuahuan Desert habitat interspersed with valleys, hills, canyons, higher desert mountains, and 6 miles of Rio Grande riparian habitat. The area contains chaparral, riparian, desert shrub, and yuccas-sotol-shrub highlands. The climate is relatively mild in winter with extremely hot summers. The average rainfall is 4 to 9 inches annually.

ECLCC works with numerous conservation partners to restore native wildlife and birds through land restoration, water resource developments, and habitat enhancement. Future plans include using the property as a research and demonstration area to highlight the lower desert ecosystem in the Trans-Pecos Region of western Texas.

In 2017, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recognized excellence in wildlife and natural resource management at ECLCC with its most prestigious Lone Star Land Steward Award for the Trans Pecos Ecoregion.

In 2018, Texan by Nature selected ECLCC as a Conservation Wrangler based on the project’s positive impact to people, prosperity, and natural resources. 

ECLCC continues to focus on landscape-scale management, where all species are taken into consideration, including by developing more water sources for wildlife, creating a bird oasis in the desert where migratory birds can use the area as a “stop-over” to rest and refuel on their migratory journey. Lastly, ECLCC also continues to educate and collaborate with local landowners, schools, college students, and a host of conservation organizations on desert landscape and wildlife management.

Learn more about this project in Texas and about CEMEX’s efforts on the Mexico side of the Border, in this 15-year report of El Carmen Nature Reserve. 

CEMEX Balcones Quarry & Balcones Dry Comal Creek Wildlife Habitat Center

In New Braunfels, CEMEX recently opened the Balcones Dry Comal Creek Wildlife Habitat Center to increase the site’s biodiversity, promote environmental stewardship, and provide educational opportunities for the local community. CEMEX’s New Braunfels operation sits on approximately 3,000 acres within two ecological regions: Edwards Plateau and Blackland Prairie. The center features a pollinator garden with native plant species, a vegetable garden, 10 acres of restored prairie with apiaries, birdhouses, native grasses, and wildflowers, and a new education building. 

More than 1,500 students, educators, and other visitors tour CEMEX’s Nature Center annually for hands-on learning. CEMEX’s voluntary conservation programs seek out conservation and education projects and partners year-around that align with the important needs and priorities in the region. This site is proud to be Texan by Nature Certified!

For more than three consecutive years, the CEMEX Balcones Quarry has successfully sustained conserving blue gold from the local aquifers as a result of the completion of a new state-of-the-art and advanced water recycling system, which has reduced reliance on water from nearby sources and cut usage by 90 percent annually.

In addition, CEMEX supports the Edwards Aquifer Conservancy (EAC) Education Program. The CEMEX Educator Excursion Series, launched by CEMEX and EAC in 2016, is a certification program dedicated to providing hands-on learning for local educators in protecting and conserving the diverse habitat around the Edwards Aquifer. The CEMEX Foundation has supported the EAC with grants of $45,000 each year from 2017 to 2019. Program participants receive exclusive access to aquifer-related locations and personal interaction with Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) staff geologists, hydrologists, and biologists at no cost, while also receiving the opportunity for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit. 

CEMEX’s continued support makes it possible for EAC to teach the concepts of water conservation, habitat preservation, and good stewardship to thousands of students across the region. Through efforts like this, CEMEX focuses not only on increasing water conservation and awareness in the workplace but also at the homes of employees and communities; contributing to the betterment of the region through the environmentally responsible protection and use of water.

Additional Conservation Programs & Efforts

CEMEX has collaborated with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to produce a Texas Native Landscaping Guide to increase awareness of the benefits of native landscaping, provide technical advice on how to create a beautiful and beneficial habitat, and inspire employees and their communities to embrace how – even the smallest backyard patches — can make a big difference for wildlife and people, as well as air and water quality.

Nationwide, CEMEX has partnered with the WHC and other local partners to restore declining populations of monarch butterflies by creating pollinator habitats across their migration path, contributing to the United States’ National Pollinator Health Strategy. To date, CEMEX has created over 25 habitat areas and reared and released hundreds of butterflies. In 2019, CEMEX planted more than 400 flowering plants and distributed thousands of milkweed seeds to expand the monarch habitat.

At a global level, CEMEX cooperates closely with UNESCO, Wild Foundation, Birdlife International, Wildlife Habitat Council, Conservation International, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These projects have led to a series of conservation and nature books that have proved widely successful.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

CEMEX is committed to sustainability, biodiversity, and conservation and recognizes the importance of nature-based solutions to achieve climate action goals. CEMEX also incorporates the use of alternative fuels in its operations and participates in programs to cut energy usage and reduce emissions. 

In 2020, two terminals in Texas were among the latest CEMEX operations to be recognized by the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program for their dedication to conservation and sustainability by reducing energy consumption. CEMEX has a longstanding commitment to sustainability and conservation, earning EPA ENERGY STAR®  Partner of the Year both in 2019 and 2020. More than 50 CEMEX operations have been recognized for excellence in ENERGY STAR® programs. CEMEX strives to be a good neighbor in the communities where they reside and operate and are always looking for additional opportunities to conserve and enhance the environment.

TEXAN-LED CONSERVATION

CEMEX’s operations and products, including those in Texas, have been integral for the construction of major projects across the United States. CEMEX’s operational footprint spans from California through Texas and onto Florida. Within Texas, CEMEX employs more than 1,200 men and women across a strong network that includes a cement plant, 7 distribution terminals, the largest crushed stone quarry in the U.S. by volume, and more than 20 ready-mix concrete plants. Texas-based employees account for almost 15% of CEMEX’s U.S. workforce. With the state’s rich diversity and a vibrant economy, Texas is a great place for the heart of CEMEX’s U.S. operations.

Learn more about CEMEX’s sustainability efforts.