LafargeHolcim adds new production facilities in Africa for its sustainable and affordable housing solution, Durabric

LafargeHolcim adds new production facilities in Africa for its sustainable and affordable housing solution, Durabric

(PRESS RELEASE) JONA, Switzerland, 27-Nov-2019 — /EuropaWire/ — LafargeHolcim adds more production capacity for its Durabric soil-stabilized bricks with new a plant located in Malawi. As part of 14Trees, its joint venture with CDC Group, the new plant will industrialize LafargeHolcim’s Durabric solution, thus increasing its commitment to provide low-carbon and affordable housing solutions in Africa. Durabric is the first soil-stabilized brick that is sold on mass scale in sub-saharan Africa. 14Trees has also entered other African markets including Kenya and the Ivory Coast.

“Today, less than 10 percent of the population in Africa can afford the cheapest newly built house. LafargeHolcim, with its unique innovation capabilities, has developed a range of construction solutions to make houses more affordable for the majority while improving the environmental footprint of those buildings. With additional production capacities, we are now able to offer these solutions beyond Malawi and increase our positive contribution further,” said Miljan Gutovic, Region Head Middle East Africa.

Durabric is a good example of efforts to take sustainable solutions to scale. 14Trees has been working with the construction sector in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa, to make Durabric the technology of choice in the country. To date, 2 million bricks have been sold saving over 4,000 trees and avoiding over 15,000 tons of CO2 emissions since 2016.

Sustainable and affordable housing solutions to prevent further deforestation

The most used building material in Malawi and several other countries is burnt clay bricks, which involve heavy consumption of firewood due to the need to fire the clay that is used to make the bricks. While Durabrics production process uses a mixture of soil, sand, cement and water without firing. Malawians burn around 850,000 tons of fuelwood per year in the process of firing bricks. The entire country would be deforested in a generation at this rate, for that reason, Durabric provides a viable alternative solution.

Durabrics can save 14 trees for each simple house built compared to fired bricks. Durabrics are three times stronger, result in one-fifth of the CO2 emissions, up to 20 percent cheaper per square meter of wall and are more resistant to heavy rainfall than traditional bricks.

The new plant is located in Blantyre, Malawi’s business hub and second largest city. It complements the Lilongwe based factory. 14Trees also launched two mobile plants that will be able to flexibly serve rural communities. Those mobile plants provide employment for local villagers – often providing them with their first ever decent salary at the same time cut transport costs.

14Trees has also developed a turnkey house solution with Durabric, delivering a one-bedroom house in 12 weeks for less than USD 20,000 and offers home-owners a credit in collaboration with local banks.

About LafargeHolcim

LafargeHolcim is the world leader in building materials and solutions. The company is active in four business segments: Cement, Aggregates, Ready-Mix Concrete and Solutions & Products.

LafargeHolcim has leading positions in all regions of the world and a balanced portfolio between developing and mature markets, offering a broad range of high-quality building materials and solutions. Global population growth, urbanization, improved living standards and sustainable construction drive the demand for LafargeHolcim materials and solutions. LafargeHolcim employs around 75,000 people in around 80 countries.

For more information, please contact:

Media relations contacts
media@lafargeholcim.com
Zug: ​+41 (0) 58 858 87 10

Investor relations contacts
investor.relations@lafargeholcim.com
Zug: +41 (0) 58 858 87 87

SOURCE: LafargeHolcim