Protecting the planet

We are conscious of the impact our activity can have on the natural world and we are working to reduce it. For example, we are improving the way we monitor water in order to better manage this resource.

Laure Fontaine

Environment Vice President, Imerys

Helping wildlife thrive in the Americas

Since 1996, Imerys has delivered significant environmental benefits through land rehabilitation across the Americas. For example, 4,410 acres benefited from continuous cycles of rehabilitation at our Sandersville site in Georgia, USA, allowing flora and fauna to flourish, while engaging with local stakeholders such as schools and fishermen.

Saving water resources in South Africa

An Imerys plant in Thabazimbi, South Africa, launched a project to reduce water withdrawal by commissioning a thickener installation and pumping station. The result is a potential annual saving of 640,000 cubic meters of water in an area in which water is scarce – equivalent to the annual water consumption of 5,400 people in South Africa.

Tracking birdlife in southwestern France

At the Clérac site, Imerys works together with local non-governmental organizations and the French National Museum of Natural History to monitor ecological management measures, for example through an annual bird banding campaign.

Quarry of Savins in March 2021 and June 2022

Educating young generations on biodiversity

Imerys has restored its Savins quarry near Provins (France), restoring an area rich in biodiversity while engaging with the local community through educational activities.

Helping biodiversity flourish

Imerys has a structured approach to biodiversity preservation across the Group, with a new roadmap, rolled out in 2021. It notably requires all our sites to take into account impacts on natural habitats and to put in place mitigation measures covering the whole operation cycle.

Preserving natural resources

We are working to improve our water management policy across all current and future operations around the world. Also, to preserve mineral resources, we introduce reclaimed raw materials where possible in existing product solutions.

Nurturing scientific partnerships for the long term

We have a comprehensive network of partnerships with experts, scientific bodies, international organizations and industry leaders that allow us to combine resources and expertise so we can make a difference in protecting the environment together. In 2020, we joined act4nature international, actively supporting the ten commitments of this initiative to protect, promote and restore biodiversity. In 2018 we established a scientific partnership with UAR Patrimoine Naturel, an umbrella organization bringing together the French National Museum of Natural History, the French Agency for Biodiversity, the Institute of Research and Development (IRD), and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).

Objectives and progress

22%

of our major consuming sites comply with new water reporting requirements at the end of 2023.

20%

of our sites generating large mineral waste volume comply with new reporting requirements at the end of 2023.

57%

of our biodiversity sensitive sites were audited at the end of 2023.

Environment related news

Local news

March 31, 2023

Land restoration project creates habitats for flora and fauna at closed quarry site in Provins, France

Imerys has rehabilitated its Savins quarry around the town of Provins in France, and located in a prominent farming area. The project has created an area rich in biodiversity. Particularly, the body of water has, among other successes, allowed the colonization of dozens of species of flora and fauna.