Holcim·Construction / Real Estate·Zug, Switzerland·Founded 1912·Last verified 31 May 2026
29
out of 100
Significant gapsPending ReviewStrong evidence· 21 src

Holcim reports comprehensive emissions data and leads in construction waste recycling, but relies overwhelmingly on intensity targets that mask stagnant absolute emissions and hide reliance on unproven CCUS technology. The Lafarge Syria terrorism financing case ($778M fine, ongoing French trial), the admitted climate lawsuit, and the Mormont quarry conflict expose fundamental tensions between extraction-based business models and credible sustainability.

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Construction / Real Estate sector ceiling.
35 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
54 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 35) + (0.7 × 54) = 48.3
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.6
Final score
Rounded. Significant gaps.
29 / 100
The ten questions

Where Holcim is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Controversies & Red Flags and Emissions Trajectory (2/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

21 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

11 of 21 sources are third-party verified or public record.

[1]Third-party verified
Tracenable — Holcim GHG Emissions
Unknown
Q1Q2
View →
[2]Self-reported
Holcim Climate Report 2024
2025
Q1
View →
[3]Third-party verified
FIR/ACT Assessment: Say on Climate Holcim
Unknown
Q2Q3Q8
View →
[4]Third-party verified
Tracenable — Holcim Climate Targets
Unknown
Q3Q8
View →
[5]Third-party verified
Friends of the Earth — Pari Island Against Holcim
Ongoing
Q3
View →
[6]Self-reported
Holcim Sustainability Hub
Ongoing
Q3Q7
View →
[7]Self-reported
Holcim — Shifting Renewable Energy
Unknown
Q4
View →
[8]Self-reported
Iberdrola Press Release: Strategic Partnership with Holcim
Unknown
Q4
View →
[9]Self-reported
Holcim — Decarbonizing Building: Green Operations
Unknown
Q4
View →
[10]Third-party verified
ESG Today — SBTN-Validated Nature Targets
Unknown
Q5Q7
View →
[11]Third-party verified
SBTN Pilot Case Study — Holcim
Unknown
Q5
View →
[12]Third-party verified
Trellis — Holcim Nurturing Nature at 800 Limestone Quarries
Unknown
Q5
View →
[13]Self-reported
Holcim — Environment, HSE, Sustainability
Ongoing
Q6
View →
[14]Self-reported
Holcim Non-Financial Matters Report 2024
2025
Q6
View →
[15]Self-reported
Holcim — Water Sustainability
Ongoing
Q7
View →
[16]Self-reported
Holcim — Media Release: SBTi Validation
Unknown
Q8
View →
[17]Self-reported
Holcim — ESG Policies, Documents, Reports
Ongoing
Q9
View →
[18]Third-party verified
Ethos Fund — Holcim AGM 2023 Assessment
2023
Q9
View →
[19]Public record
ECCHR — Zuger Gericht erklärt Klimaklage gegen Holcim für zulässig
2025
Q10
View →
[20]Third-party verified
ECCHR — Lafarge in Syria: Accusations of Complicity
Ongoing
Q10
View →
[21]Third-party verified
InfluenceMap — LaFarge Lobbying Profile
Unknown
Q10
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Holcim in context

Holcim is tied at the bottom of the construction / real estate pack.

Among the 12 major construction / real estate brands we've scored, Holcim is tied =10th of 12, with 2 others.

=10/12
Holcim's rank
39
Industry average
29
Industry low
60
Industry high
How this score has moved

Holcim's score over time.

today

Score history begins 4 April 2026.

As Holcim's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Holcim

Holcim is a Swiss multinational cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete producer, founded in 1912 and headquartered in Zug. With 2022 revenue of CHF 29.2 billion, it operates across 44 markets and is among the world's largest construction materials companies. The sector is carbon-intensive; cement production alone accounts for ~8% of global CO2 emissions.

Founded
1912
Headquarters
Zug, Switzerland
Employees
~45,000
Annual revenue
~CHF 16.2B
Company website ↗
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