Sustainability: HeidelbergCement no longer wants to be called HeidelbergCement

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Cement plant in Burglengenfeld: building material with an image problem

Photo: Manfred Segerer / IMAGO

Cement doesn't last forever either: the building materials manufacturer HeidelbergCement says goodbye to cement in its brand name and changes its name to Heidelberg Materials.

The Dax company announced that the new name will be introduced at group level with immediate effect.

The national and international subsidiaries would be gradually renamed from 2023.

Cement has an image problem: The building material is regarded as a secret climate killer – more CO₂ is emitted during its manufacture than through global air travel.

The new name sounds more promising.

The group's board of directors explained the renaming with the group's broader range of services and the goal of becoming the first climate-neutral company in the industry.

The group is pushing ahead with the conversion, but is still a long way from this goal.

According to the half-year balance sheet, the Heidelberg company sold around 30.5 million tons of cement and clinker in the first half of the year.

The company does not intend to offer so-called CO₂-free cement on a large scale until 2024.

“We are proud of our cement business, but the company's range of services goes far beyond cement.

Even more so today and in the future,” said Dominik von Acht, Chairman of the Board of Management.

The building materials manufacturer employs more than 51,000 people in more than 50 countries worldwide.

However, the group is still keeping a small back door open: the parent company of Heidelberg Materials will initially remain HeidelbergCement AG, the group announced.