Olsen elected Chairman of the Cement Sustainability Initiative for 2017

Words: Margaret FosterEric Olsen, CEO of LafargeHolcim, will become the new Chairman of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) in 2017, as confirmed by the organization’s annual CEO Meeting in Madrid.

LafargeHolcim is one of the founding members of the CSI which is part of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and was launched in 1999 with the aim of supporting the progress of the global cement sector toward sustainable development. The CSI unites 23 major cement producers with operations in more than 100 countries. Collectively these companies account for around 30 percent of the world’s cement production and range in size from very large multinationals to small local producers.

“It is an honor for me to be chairing this important industry organization in the coming year. Sustainability in the construction sector is not the preserve of one organization. I will focus on ensuring that the CSI continues to play an important role in building collaboration within our industry and encouraging joint action across the entire value chain. As one of the largest global sustainability programs ever undertaken by a single industry sector, we have a real opportunity to drive change. Our plans are ambitious and we are conscious that we will only achieve them by working together”, said Eric Olsen.

In 2017, the members of the CSI agreed to concentrate their efforts on most material topics, among others: health and safety; actions to further reduce CO 2 emissions; increasing awareness of concrete as a sustainable building material; the launch of a responsible sourcing scheme for concrete; and the development of common metrics to measure social performance.
Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Fechino Files: Trust Your Subs, Just Document!
June 2026

When I was working for a large masonry contractor, we typically performed masonry work with our own employees. When we would construct large Segmental Retaining Walls, often we would require a subcontractor who had larger equipment for different portions

Steve Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Borobudur
June 2026

For masonry contractors and suppliers, few structures offer as much practical insight as Borobudur. Built in the 9th century in Central Java, this massive stone monument remains as one of the most advanced examples of large-scale masonry construction ever

Cassandra Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Wrapping Up Our Year And A Look Ahead
June 2026

It is amazing another year has gone by and what a year it has been. We have seen a lot of progress on so many fronts. All of this happens specifically due to the support of our members. Your support this past year is positioning our industry to make huge

Jeff B
President's Message
Read More