DAVAO CITY: Holcim Philippines inaugurated its first innovation hub in Davao City on Tuesday, marking a significant step towards offering advanced and sustainable building solutions. The opening event was accompanied by a press briefing where Holcim Philippines president and chief operating officer Horia Adrian detailed the hub's purpose and offerings.
According to Philippines News Agency, the innovation hub is designed to exhibit sustainable building solutions and function as a collaborative laboratory to foster the development of low-carbon, circular, and energy-efficient structures globally. The hub will enable clients and partners to virtually access the global Holcim Innovation Hub located in France, where they can explore new materials aimed at more sustainable and innovative construction practices.
Adrian emphasized that the Innovation Hub is integral to Holcim Philippines' commitment to supporting the country's development, particularly in the rapidly growing region of Mindanao. The hub's focus is on delivering innovative solutions that allow essential structures to be built with minimal environmental impact. He invited residents of Davao City to visit Holcim's showroom, which highlights various innovative solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of buildings.
The hub features a range of low-carbon materials, such as ECOPact concrete and ECOPlanet cement. Additionally, it showcases circular construction solutions, including Holcim's proprietary ECOCycle® circular technology platform. This platform is designed to recycle construction and demolition materials into new building solutions, further emphasizing the company's commitment to sustainability.
Ramakrishna Maganti, senior vice president and head of infrastructure and industrial sales at Holcim, underscored the company's drive to transform into a sustainable and innovative building solutions provider. He highlighted their focus on advancing decarbonization and promoting a circular economy in the construction industry. "We are at the forefront of decarbonizing building across its entire lifecycle to build a net-zero future that works for people and the planet while delivering record performance simultaneously," Maganti stated.
Holcim Philippines has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint since 2018. By increasing the production of blended cement, substituting coal with qualified waste as alternative fuels, and enhancing operational efficiency, the company has successfully reduced its carbon footprint by over 20 percent.