Construction is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines. However, the country requires major infrastructure and housing projects that still need to be built. According to cement maker Holcim Philippines, environment-friendly construction materials can solve this conundrum.
The firm believes low-carbon products in the construction industry will help the country meet its climate goals while supporting growth in the Philippine property sector. That’s because these can be utilized by both public and private projects.
“Construction industry is one of the industries that are, let’s say, contributing to this CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions,” Holcim Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Horia Adrian told the Philippine News Agency. “We are here to be partners and we are here to provide what is needed to reduce the CO2 emission for construction industry and to decarbonize the construction industry in the country.”
Holcim Philippines is already speaking with national and local authorities about how environment-friendly construction materials can support efforts across the property sector in the Philippines. In particular, the government’s new infrastructure program would be best served by using low-carbon products.
Recycling is another important aspect of what Holcim Philippines does. The company’s manufacturing facilities take in a considerable amount of recycled waste that is blended into its cement products. This is a vital component of the circular economy.
“We are making a serious pledge here in embedding recycling into the new way of building,” Adrian stated. “We should preserve the natural resources. We should make sure that we build more with old materials.”
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SM Prime embraces green buildings
SM Prime has fully embraced green buildings as it looks to inspire change in the community. The firm has worked diligently to incorporate sustainability into its designs while empowering its developments with features that protect health and wellbeing.
“Constructing greener buildings provides holistic solutions not only reducing emissions but also promoting social wellbeing,” Hans Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee, told The Manila Times. “We see this in our developments which drives us to build greener and even retrofit our existing malls to meet green standards.”
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