The CGreen Days tour of Italy concluded with the final event in Sardegna: from spring to autumn, a journey of seven stages across Italy to meet customers and present the technological evolution that has led to the creation of new generation cements, with low environmental impact.

Starting from Vernasca, the route touched the facilities of Barletta, Guidonia (Roma), Robilante (Cuneo), Monselice (Padova), Augusta (Siracusa) and finally ended in Siniscola (Nuoro).

The format has always had three main moments: a meeting with local customers, to underline the strategic choices undertaken with a view to decarbonisation and to present the new cements with reduced environmental impact; the guided tour of the plants, to learn about investments in optimizing the production process; a convivial moment to discover the territory and the communities in which Buzzi Unicem operates.

The CGreen days proved to be pleasant days of updating and sharing and touched on special places such as the Masone Labyrinth in Fontanellato, the historic center of Trani, the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor in Tivoli, the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova, Fort Vittoria in Augusta, the Source of Su Gologone.

A formula that has proven to be appreciated for its ability to combine work topics with entertainment and valorisation of the territory.

Yesterday 4 September 2023, at the age of 90 years and two months, Sandro Buzzi concluded his earthly journey and reached the Father's house. We like to remember with affection and emotion his role as an enthusiastic, optimistic, passionate and empathetic leader.

Sandro Buzzi had a long, beautiful, challenging and successful life. His story has been inextricably linked to that of the company, since 1957, when as a young chemical engineer was called by his father Luigi to promptly take care of the transition from natural to artificial cement. Over time he has developed an almost unique knowledge and specialization of cement process and technology. The passion for the product led him to extend his scope of knowledge and work also to applications, especially the standards and the quality of the nascent ready-mix concrete industry. Starting in the 1980s, he has held various top positions within the group and, sided with the brothers Franco and Enrico, he has been the architect of the main phases of company development (acquisition of Unicem in 1997 and Dyckerhoff in 2001).

Sandro Buzzi also nurtured a great love for the sea, in particular offshore sailing. In many competitions he participated as skipper, at any level, both in the Mediterranean and across the Ocean. He instilled in this hobby the same passion for engineering that he had from his daily work, starting with the use of the sextant to the development of innovations such as twin foils coupled with canting keel.

We will continue to follow his example of dedication and love for work, family and business.

At the end of May, the second edition of the TagCem Master in Advanced Techniques for the Management of Cement Production Plants began, linked to an advanced training and research apprenticeship contract.

The ten students began attending lessons in the offices of Casale, identified as the academic headquarters; in a second phase, they will move to the classrooms of the Polytechnic of Turin, partner of the project. This two-year course includes periods of stay in the group's various plants to acquire operational technical skills.

This edition also aims at transforming apprentices into expert professionals, preparing them for entry into industry and providing them with the know-how necessary to face the challenges of the future. The Quarries and Mines Management, the Ecology, Environment and Safety Management, the Operations Management, the Logistics and Purchasing Management, the Projects and New Plant Management and the Quality and Technical Assistance Management were involved in this important project.

Three events in as many local communities, for a significant moment of sharing with the younger generations: Buzzi Unicem has decided to dedicate to schools the "Porte Aperte" event, promoted by Federbeton Confindustria - the Federation that represents the cement and concrete supply chain in Italy - to introduce communities behind the scenes of the Made in Italy effort in the construction sector.
The artistic and social sensitivity developed in recent years has led Buzzi Unicem to honor this commitment by organizing a relevant event in Monselice on May 6th: two hundred students from the JFK Institute and Jacopo da Montagnana high schools have been spectators of “La voce della Costituzione”, as part of the Este vicariate "Teatrando" project. A representation full of meaning and value, which has been staged by Alberto Riello and Stefano Corbo in the bagging area.

On May 20th it was the turn of the Barletta plant, which hosted 200 students of Cassandro Fermi Nervi and Ipsia Archimede; on May 27th in Siniscola, over 100 young people from ITCG Luigi and IIS Michelangelo Pira visited the local plant, learning more about the cement production cycle, the theme of quarries and environmental restoration, as well as safety in the workplace.

By reserving the "Porte Aperte" space for schools, Buzzi Unicem confirms its sensitivity for the young protagonists of the community: kids who live the sustainability issues and who will soon have to make important choices for their future.

The second edition of the AEuganeus Basketball Party was staged on Sunday 28 May, with a tournament dedicated to the Aquilotti category, at the Monselice production site.

In addition to Virtus Padova, Pallacanestro Redentore, Basket Conselve, Battaglia Terme and Pallacanestro Camin also joined and participated with the Aquilotti teams on the playing fields set up within the spaces made available by Buzzi Unicem. An alternative Sunday for all the children who put on a show with jumps, basket shots and lots of smiles, in front of their parents' eyes, playing in a unique location.

In addition to the basketball tournament, the guests were able to attend (as in the previous edition) the performance of the Tamburini dell'Augusta Contrada di Marendole, a group that for several years has been awarded as best drum 'ensemble' in the historic procession of the 'Palio di Monselice'. In the afternoon, after a tasty lunch break, spotlight on inclusive basketball with a beautiful BaskIN demonstration game starring the Redentore Baskin Este team.

During the event, the families and all the participants had the opportunity to visit the company and learn about the manufacturing processes of the plant.
“Also this year we are proud to host the AEuganeus Basketball Party with lots of children and parents who had fun, in addition to the many local associations with which we are happy to collaborate. A beautiful event for everyone and we can only give everyone appointment for next year edition”, commented Daniele Bogni, Director of the Buzzi Unicem plant.

The event was attended by Chief Executive Officer Antonio Buzzi, plant manager Daniele Bogni, Virtus Padova Director Nicola Bernardi, Virtus head coach Riccardo De Nicolao, captain Federico Schiavon, Umana Reyer Venezia playmaker Andrea De Nicolao and FIP Padova President Flavio Camporese.
“Even this year it has been a wonderful even: it allows us to involve the children of mini-basketball and many local realities with an organization like no other. We can only thank Virtus and Buzzi Unicem for making these activities possible", commented Flavio Camporese, President of FIP Padova.
The spaces made available within the Monselice plant also housed the Italian Red Cross, with a special area reserved for blood sugar and cholesterol tests, the Italian Naval League Sect. Padua with the display of their boats, the Augusta Contrada di Marendole which has created a podcast with the protagonists of the day and the Salus Pueri Foundation, which supports the Paediatrics of Padova and promotes the health of all children, with a presentation of the project 'Salute, Giovani e Stili di Vita' (to which a special fundraising moment was dedicated, with a fancy charity shooting competition whose proceeds will be doubled by Buzzi Unicem).

“It has been a truly special day, which combined sport and education, leaving everyone with many beautiful memories, in the name of sport, celebration and sharing in a different setting from the usual with the possibility of getting to know the activities and the work behind a company like Buzzi Unicem which is also linked to social commitment by bringing into play important values such as inclusion and solidarity, with the fun shooting competition for charity in favor of the Salus Foundation Pueri", commented Riccardo De Nicolao, Technical Manager of the neroverde youth sector.
 

Seven stops, between spring and autumn, to meet customers and present the technological evolution that has led to the creation of new generation cements with low environmental impact.

The first CGreen Day of the season was held on Friday 14th April: an interesting day of updating and sharing, which began in the fascinating location of the Masone Labyrinth in Fontanellato (Parma) and then continued in the afternoon at the Vernasca facility.

The meeting allowed the company to underline the strategic choices undertaken for decarbonisation: a commitment signed in the Roadmap 'Our Journey to Net Zero' towards total carbon neutrality by 2050.

Once the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% over the last two decades has been achieved, a major investment has been planned to achieve the intermediate goals of 2030 and continue along this demanding path of sustainability.

In addition to the introduction of CGreen cements with a lower clinker content, the essential technological actions include the replacement of fossil fuels (with new installations for the use of CSS), the use of decarbonised and mineralizing raw materials, renewable energies and systems which increase the use of alternative fuels.

The tour of Italy will experience its second stage on May 19, when Buzzi Unicem will meet customers who refer to the Barletta cement plant.
 

In its Sustainability Report 2022, Buzzi Unicem shares with its stakeholders an accurate snapshot of the company's economic, environmental and social performance.

In this edition, the twenty-second one to be exact, the company once again seizes the opportunity to give an update on its goals. The year 2022 was the year in which we achieved the goals announced in 2017: a 5% reduction in our specific CO2 emissions, the implementation of structural engagement projects, and increasingly safer working conditions at all production facilities. 

Also worthy of note is the introduction of a section dedicated to the Roadmap "Our Journey to Net Zero" and to the validation by SBTi, an authoritative international body that has approved our targets to 2030. 

Lastly, in this Report we provide all the information required by Taxonomy Regulation: after the indication of the percentages of eligible turnover, investments and operating costs, provided in last year's Report, this year we also included the respective percentages of alignment according to the criteria established by the Regulation for the cement industry.


Read the complete report here.

The new edition of the Stakeholder Engagement report shows the activities in the plants, after the years conditioned by the pandemic.
The document describes the various projects that the company has carried out throughout the country, reaching more than 9,000 stakeholders.

In addition to various cultural and social activities, particular effort was put into the training with schools on the climate change matter and other topics.
“High 5” has been a winning project also in 2022, involving 135 students with more than 11,000 hours of training at the plants and at Casale Monferrato headquarters.

Read the complete report here.

Bolstered by the success of the first edition, Buzzi Unicem has decided to reintroduce the two-year Level II University Master's Degree in ‘Tecniche avanzate per la gestione degli impianti di produzione del cemento’ (Advanced Techniques for Cement Plant Management). 

Developed in collaboration with the Master's and Lifelong Learning School of the Polytechnic University of Turin, the TagCem Master's program will run until the spring of 2025 with the aim of providing trainees with a body of knowledge applied to different professional fields and organizational roles, along the company's entire production chain.

Once the master is finished, the participants in the Master's program, initially hired under a contract of advanced training and research apprenticeship, will be officially placed at Buzzi Unicem to fill positions within the company.

Enrollment in the second edition of TagCem is officially open until March 29: more information can be found on the Polytechnic's official website.