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Thursday, 25 July 2019 00:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Maleesha Sulthanagoda
INSEE Cement Sri Lanka launched its Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Report 2018 earlier this week showcasing the company’s ongoing efforts towards improving its performances, production processes, efficiency, and multiple community projects.
The document is the firm’s first GRI-based report post-acquisition by Siam City Cement Public Company (SCCC) of Thailand. The report focuses on sustainability from an economic, environmental, and social aspect. From the impacts of the cement manufacturer’s influence in driving national growth in an infrastructural standpoint, effects on the environment through the production process of cement, and to various community outreach initiatives the firm has taken under its wings.
The Sustainability Report 2018 themed ‘Building a Sustainable Nation’ was launched to the public with a compelling discussion panel featuring seven eminent speakers with expertise in safeguarding the environment. The panel discussion was conducted by Savithri Rodrigo, the well-known presenter and journalist.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Country Representative Dr. A. Mallawatantri spoke of IUCN international and local level endeavours and its contribution toward sustainable development goals while Shiranee Yasaratna, Advisor – Secretariat of Biodiversity Sri Lanka emphasised the role of the private organisation’s involvement in biodiversity conservation activities. Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, Senior Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Peradeniya and Chairman of Green Building Council of Sri Lanka focused on the best practices of sustainable construction industry.
INSEE Cement CEO Nandana Ekanayake, presenting the highlights of the results of the Sustainability Report, said, “Being an integral part of Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, we are driven by a commitment towards building a sustainable future.”
Ekanayake also revealed that INSEE Group’s investments in expansion, modernisation, R&D facilities, and environment performance improvements amounted to $ 47 m since the acquisition.
He also emphasised that green ethics are a key component of INSEE’s sustainability agenda, commenting that the firm will remain fully committed to enriching, and empowering the lives of the communities that they serve.
Director of INSEE Ecocycle, Sanjeewa Chulakumara highlighted the company’s contribution to the nation’s industrial waste management and Non-Kiln Based environmental solutions by INSEE Ecocycle Lanka. Sudashini Christopher, Company Communications and Reputation Manager highlighted the company’s Sustainability agenda pertaining to community engagement and environmental responsibility.
The Sustainability Report showcased the Company’s ongoing efforts towards improving its disclosure of triple bottom line performance for the 2018 financial year. The content of the report has been structured according to the internationally recognised Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and conforms to the requirements of the ‘Core’ option of the GRI standards and principles relating to sustainability.
Sudashini Christopher, Company Communications and Reputation Manager of INSEE Cement Sri Lanka highlighted the company’s commitment and approach to sustainability adding, “At INSEE, sustainability is not a separate topic but an all-encompassing concept that is fully integrated into our value chain operations. We have understood and accepted the fact that to be recognised as an environmentally responsible organisation, we need to have carbon offsetting as our top priority. To achieve this objective we engage in many environmental sustainability initiatives such as reforestation, mangrove conservation and planting ‘green future leaders’ through our recently launched environmental CSR program – One Child One Tree initiative. We also focus on coral restoration – especially in the Southern Province. We have developed our own biodiversity, CO2, water management and Energy management protocols benchmarking to international standards.”
She further stressed, “Launching this inaugural report is our first step towards accountability and transparency of our sustainable practices.”
INSEE Cement Sri Lanka is the only fully integrated cement manufacturer in the country. The company produces Sri Lanka’s most preferred superior Blended cement brands, INSEE Sanstha, and Mahaweli Marine Plus Cement. The flagship brand Sanstha Cement, is the first superior Blended Cement launched in Sri Lanka and the first “Green cement product” to receive the green labelling certification from the Green Building Council, Sri Lanka. Recently, the company has started producing customised concrete based solutions (Ready mixed concrete) in a state-of-the-art INSEE Concrete manufacturing facility in Peliyagoda.
