Under the sign of the pandemic

2020 will undoubtedly go down in history as a year in which the entire humanity felt threatened. The spread of Covid-19 reached us all and everywhere, and in some cases in a dramatic way. Along with the obvious effects on health, the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy, including, not surprisingly, that of our sector, due to the restrictions on activity derived from successive lockdowns.

Despite the difficult situation experienced,Ciment Català’s associated companieshave not reduced in the least any of their commitments. First, with the professionals ofthe sector. New action protocols were arbitrated to avoid contagion (teleworking, social distance ...) and job possitions were maintained in the conditions required by the new situation.

Secondly, with our clients. Factories managed to maintain cement supplies for all the works in progress, without ever causing a material shortage.

We have also shown our involvement with society, offering public administrations our facilities for the recovery of sanitary waste produced by the pandemic. In this sense, we continue with our energy recovery from waste policy, which helps to avoid landfillingand reduces carbon footprint by using less fossil fuels and reducing other pollutants emissions.

The year we are reviewing here has been very hard and complex. Yet,these difficulties have only highlighted the technological preparation of the Catalan cement sector, which has been able to minimize the effects thanks to its efficiency and the availability of the Best Available Techniques in its industrial processes.

Now, a relaunch of the economy is imposed to recover the jobs and activity wrecked by Covid-19. Our companies are able to respond to this challenge, by producing the necessary cement for the construction of infrastructure and housing, essential for the competitiveness of the country and the well-being of our fellow citizens. And to do so, in addition, maintaining and deepening the values and principles of the Circular Economy, which guarantee greater protection of our nature and environmental, and the sustainable development of our country and our society.