Sustainable financing linked to Holcim’s climate, water, and safety goals
November 9, 2021 – Holcim has announced its commitment to reach at least 40%
of sustainable financing by 2024, putting climate action, water preservation and safety
at the heart of its strategy.
The company recently accelerated this commitment with the completion of two new
sustainability-linked financing transactions worth above CHF 3 billion (USD 3.3 billion).
To scale up its impact, Holcim joined the UNGC CFO Taskforce alongside 60
companies representing a combined USD 1.7 trillion in market capitalization. The
UNGC CFO Taskforce aligns members’ finance strategies with the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Holcim CFO Géraldine Picaud said: “Sustainability is at the core of what we do. That’s why
we set ourselves some of the most ambitious goals in our industry.”
“Walking the talk, we are putting climate, water and safety at the heart of our financing
strategy,” he added”.
“To make a bigger impact, I am delighted to be a member of the UNGC CFO Taskforce to
move this agenda forward with my peers.”
Completion of two new sustainability-linked financing transactions
Building on the company’s EUR 850 million (USD 982) sustainability-linked bond
issued in November 2020, Holcim just completed two further transactions.
In August 2021, it refinanced a EUR 3 billion (USD 3,5 billion) syndicated credit line
linking it to climate and safety, two of its core sustainability indicators, in line with the
UN SDGs 8 (“Decent Work & Economic Growth”) and 13 (“Climate Action”).
The cost of the credit facility will depend on the company’s achievement of its annual
targets in these areas.
In September 2021, Holcim placed a new ten-year USD 100 million sustainability-linked
bond, based on its 2030 CO2 reduction target.
Confirming the company’s leadership in sustainable finance, this issue represents the first
private placement of a USD medium-term note linked to climate action. The investor will
be entitled to a higher coupon should the company not meet its climate objective.
Member of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) CFO Taskforce
Holcim’s Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework is aligned with the company’s
sustainability strategy.
It started with CO2 reduction, in line with the company’s 2030 climate targets and updated
with the full 2050 Net-Zero pathway endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative
(SBTi).
Following Holcim’s nature-positive strategy launch, it also added “specific freshwater
withdrawal” in its cement operations, aligned with SDG 6 (“Clean Water and Sanitation”).
ISS ESG agency views the new water KPI as relevant and material to Holcim and will
accordingly issue an updated second-party opinion presently.
The full framework is available online.
About Holcim
Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and
sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure
and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its
strategy Holcim is becoming a net zero company, with its people and communities at the
heart of its success. More information is available on www.holcim.com
