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Socially Responsible Investment

Lafarge is above its industry sector average on all three aspects of triple bottom line performance reporting. The company's sustainability performance is increasingly under the scrutiny of financial markets as investors seek to find investments with long-term value.

The grades below were given by the main sustainability analysts and fund managers, who provide today the only independent and integrated evaluation of companies' triple bottom line performance (economic, social and environmental). They reflect both the growing expectations of the financial community concerning corporate responsibility and the way Lafarge and its competitors are assessed.

SAM / DOW JONES

The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) tracks the performance of the top 10% of the companies in the Dow Jones Global Index that lead the field in terms of sustainability. To establish DJSI World, SAM considers the allocation in 'industrial groups' defined by Dow Jones and rates the companies. Only the top performers in each group are included in the DJSI World.

Lafarge is the leader of its group (building materials), earning the top grade in terms of its ability to anticipate risks and opportunities associated with sustainable development. In 2000 it was duly included in the DJSI World.

For further information please visit: www.sam-group.com and www.sustainability-index.com

ARESE

The French sustainability-rating agency ARESE has given Lafarge favorable ratings for a number of years. The latest assessment was done in February 2001:

(min --; sector average =: max ++)

For its overall performance, Lafarge has been selected with four other companies of its industry group for the ARESE Sustainable Performance Index (ASPI) Eurozone. Launched in June 2001, the ASPI selects the 116 best-rated companies of the DJ EURO STOXX index.

For further information please visit: www.arese-sa.com and www.arese-spi.com

STOREBRAND

Lafarge is one of the two companies in the cement industry selected by Storebrand, a leading Scandinavian financial services company for its 'Principle Funds'. The latest assessment was done in June 2001:

“Lafarge scores above its industry average on seven of the nine indicators used in the Storebrand environmental and social responsibility analysis.”

FORUM FOR THE FUTURE BENCHMARK STUDY

In 2000, Blue Circle, now part of Lafarge, commissioned the UK-based group Forum for the Future to conduct an independent review of what construction and building materials companies are doing in relation to sustainable development. Eleven construction and building materials companies were assessed with information primarily sourced from public annual and environmental reports. Although focused on the UK and US activities, the report provides a useful overview of companies' performance on a wide range of issues relating to sustainable management.

For further information please visit: www.forumforthefuture.org.uk


introduction | codes of conduct | social audits | socially responsible investment | health & safety | managing environmental impacts | community involvement | environmental auditing | voluntary agreements | reporting