Creating sustainable value for customers & markets
We are constantly pushing the boundaries to enhance our processes and practices to minimize our environmental footprint and create sustainable value for our customers and stakeholders along the value chain.
Helping our customers make informed decisions
To objectively assess our products’ environmental & social footprint and provide our customers with reliable data, we use a robust and fact-based assessment methodology: the SustainAgility Solutions Assessment (SSA) methodology.
SSA methodology enables us to score our mineral solutions based on two factors:
- Sustainable value creation: How much economic value is created in relation to the environmental impact.
- Market alignment according to market signals, assessed thanks to either an evaluation of publicly available information or discussions with key stakeholders.
After being assessed, a product is classified into the C, B, A (Enabler) or A+ (Pioneer) category depending on its level of sustainable performance.
Combining this methodology and our deep market knowledge, we are able to provide our customers with the most accurate product alternative choice to meet their sustainable ambitions.
Pioneer: A label for our most sustainable solution
Introduced in 2021, our Pioneer label is granted to mineral solutions listed as A+ by our SSA methodology. It guarantees that the product offers an outstanding sustainability performance compared to other existing references on the market.
When selecting a Pioneer solution, a customer makes the choice of a solution that has the highest level of social and environmental contribution to the downstream value chain as well as those with a low environmental impact during the production phase (in relation to its economic value).
Building trust by measuring and being transparent
As of December 2023, more than 65% of our existing portfolio solutions have been mapped using our robust SSA methodology. All the new products developed are also assessed thanks to our methodology. As a result, we can evaluate the proportion of Imerys’ product portfolio that delivers measurable sustainability benefits to society.
By putting our products and solutions to the test, we not only give our customers the data to make informed decisions in their choice of product, but we also help them drive innovation and raise the bar within their industry.
Product sustainability related documents
Our Pioneer labelled products
Imerys minerals are found in over thirty industrial sectors, serving as essential ingredients in a broad range of applications—from cosmetics and construction to energy transition initiatives. In these fields, regulations and client expectations are increasingly stringent regarding environmental protection and health standards. Our goal is to help our clients get the most out of our solutions by enhancing their positive contributions to society and responsibly managing any potential negative effects throughout their entire life cycle.
A project to test calcined clay as an ingredient in low-carbon concrete has proven its sustainable potential to reduce the cement sector's environmental impact from its current level of 8% of global CO₂ emissions.
The sanitaryware manufacturing market is actively aiming to reduce its environmental impact, thereby extending product lifespans and reducing carbon emissions. Imerys’ range of sanitaryware solutions shows significant promise in limiting the industry’s environmental impact, and the four solutions discussed below are exemplary in this regard.
From energy usage to emissions and natural resources, the construction industry has a huge impact on the environment. Today, this impact translates to revisions in building regulations, leveraging of technological advances and new materials, and greater adoption of sustainable construction methods. This sustainability is what we strive for.