Colombo, 3rd March 2021: INSEE Cement Sri Lanka, the country’s leading cement manufacturer, released its Sustainability Report 2019 themed ‘Build for Life’ during a launch event held at the Colombo Hilton Residencies recently.
Gracing the occasion were key officials from the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (ENGOs), industry key partners, well-wishers and INSEE Cement senior management. The release of the report though earlier scheduled for 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic, and due to health and safety restrictions.
This is the second Sustainability Report released by INSEE Cement following the acquisition of the company by Siam City Cement Public Company (SCCC) of Thailand in late-2016.
Inaugurating the event, Nandana Ekanayake, Chairman, INSEE Cement Sri Lanka, welcomed all participants followed by a presentation from Gustavo Navarro, Chief Executive Officer, INSEE Cement Sri Lanka, outlining the company’s sustainability initiatives and achievements during the 2019 financial year, from the 01st January 2019 to 31st December 2019. He elaborated on the report’s key highlights, explaining the activities and achievements at the three INSEE Cement plants, the quarry site, all business units and departments.
The report was formally launched by Gustavo Navarro and handed over to the distinguished invitees present.
Addressing the gathering, Gustavo Navarro said, “Over the years INSEE Cement has made a concerted effort to embed sustainability into every aspect of our business. This approach is also based on the principle of creating more value for our stakeholders, as well as for our business whilst ensuring the reduction of our environmental footprint. This has now become a way of life that defines our organisation as we recommit to ‘Building for Life’.”
He added, “As a company INSEE Cement understands the greater role it must play in the nation’s progress. This ideology underpins INSEE’s vision to be sustainable on all fronts; economic, social and environmental. The balance between economic success, environmental protection and social responsibility is an integral part of our corporate culture for decades and a journey we will continue in to the future.”
This Sustainability Report, similar to the 2018 report, has also been prepared in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: core option and is internationally recognised.
Notably, INSEE’s Sustainability Report 2019 has incorporated the revised GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 and GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018 Standards which came into effect on or after 1 January 2021.
The report also makes reference to GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 and GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018 standards both of which came into effect on or after 1st January 2021. Adoption of these indicators ahead of time reflects INSEE’s dedicated efforts to proactively improve monitoring and reporting of its sustainability performance.
Chandana Wijayanama, Organisation & Human Resources (O&HR) Director, INSEE Cement Sri Lanka stated, “Safety is not merely an obligation but rather a moral code by which the Company lives by. This is obvious to all who enter our premises and locations. Additionally, our Learning & Development (L&D) model seeks to cultivate the mindset for continuous learning and growth by providing the best environment for people to develop competencies necessary to advance their career path.”
“We believe in equipping our people with world-class learning experience through customized learning and development programmes. The INSEE Academy is a key facilitator in this L&D approach,” Wijayanama added.
A vibrant roundtable discussion based on the report’s theme was also held during the event. Panelists included Gustavo Navarro, Nandana Ekanayake, Chandana Wijayanama and Sanjeewa Chulakumara, INSEE Ecocycle Lanka Director. The discussion was moderated by Sudashini Christopher, Consultant, Sustainability & Reputation, Founder of Mavenit Consulting (Pvt) Ltd.
Commenting at the roundtable discussion, Gustavo Navarro said, “As we continue to build on the good work done, the next 3-5 years also require that we remain dedicated to further refining our strategies aligned to current climate-change and environmental challenges and the opportunities that may arise. We are also undertaking a transformation of every aspect of the business to migrate to an entirely sustainable business blueprint as we continue to ‘Build for Life’.”