General data

Introductory Presentation

This link contains our updated Environmental Statement for the Hontoria Factory in Venta de Baños, Palencia, which belongs to Grupo Cementos Portland Valderrivas, in accordance with EMAS regulations. It is the first version that we have published that is 100% online and digital. The aim is to provide our stakeholders with all the necessary information on those aspects and activities relevant to the environment associated with their activities of limestone quarrying and the production of clinker, cement, and mortar.

The Grupo Cementos Portland Valderrivas in the cement business based on a commitment to sustainable development, with an Environmental Management System (based on ISO 14001:2015 standards) that takes into account the context of the factory with a mindset based on risk and opportunity management, applying a life cycle approach to the products manufactured that considers:

• Planning of actions to control risks associated with environmental aspects and context analysis.
• Compliance with applicable requirements and performance evaluation.
• Environmental improvement plans.
• Action planning for the control of stakeholders' needs and expectations.

This Statement provides an update on the performance results of quantitative indicators related to environmental management aspects for 2024: consumption of raw materials, fuels, electricity, and water; Recovery ; emissions to air, soil, and water; biodiversity initiatives; and environmental emergencies.

Indicators and results are prioritized, summarizing the environmental evolution with respect to previous declarations in order to demonstrate improvements. All the contents of the Environmental Statement have been reviewed by the Management, with independent validation by AENOR (the certificate can be seen at the end of the document). 

Description of the activity

Activities and scope of the Environmental Statement

The Grupo Cementos Portland Valderrivas GCPV) is an industrial group to which the Palencia factory belongs. This industrial group has a strong mining component present throughout the construction business cycle, consisting of several companies and operating in Spain, with seven cement factories spread across the country, and in Tunisia. Its environmental organization is based on a functional hierarchical relationship between the Corporate Areas and the Areas of Operational and Business Responsibility.

The "Hontoria" factory, located in the municipality of Venta de Baños, is dedicated to the production of cement through a dry kiln on the banks of the Pisuerga River and surrounded by the A-62 highway and the railroad tracks. Its activity is registered under NACE code 2351 for cement production activities, NACE 0811 for stone quarrying.

The Hontoria factory occupies an area of 24,553,791^m2, which includes the factory site. The authorized limestone exploitation area or quarry comprises 81 mining squares.

Plant location: Ctra. Burgos (N-620) km 82,5 S/N, 34200 Venta de Baños, Palencia. Spain

Tlf. 979-786000 / Fax 979-786010

VAT NUMBER A-31000268

Description of the Environmental Management System

The management system implemented is in accordance with the international standards UNE-EN ISO 14001:2004 adapted throughout 2017 to the ISO 14001:2015 standard - certified in 2003, and the European Regulation 1221/2009 (EMAS III) which is adapted to Regulation 1505/2017 and Regulation 2026/2018 - registered in 2008 with code ES-CA-000028 - and is incorporated as a part of the Organization's system that adopts the principles of Environmental Management as the fundamental axis of its performance. This management system, the audits and reviews carried out by the Management, allow us to maintain a dynamic of environmental management, always having as basic principles:

• Compliance with current environmental legislation.
• Continuous improvement of the plant's environmental performance.
• Pollution prevention.

Inspired by the philosophy of continuous improvement, it will be subject to the P-E-V-O cycle (Plan - Execute - Verify - Optimize), supported by documents such as the Manual and General Procedures that respond to its interaction with the Corporate Departments and common between factories; as well as specific ones that collect the particular operation and adapted to the legal requirements of each facility.

Organizational context

The organizational context of the Hontoria plant is determined by internal and external issues that influence the ability to achieve the objectives of the Environmental Management System. External issues are mainly grouped into: needs and expectations of external stakeholders, geographical location, business situation, economic situation, legal and other applicable requirements. While internal issues include, in addition to internal stakeholders, aspects of the business group, environmental aspects, the production process itself, technological changes, management practices and others. 

Determination of risks and opportunities

The analysis of risks and opportunities is performed using qualitative or quantitative criteria. In the case of risks associated with environmental aspects and legal requirements, quantitative criteria are preferably used, as far as possible. The identification of risks and opportunities is carried out after the evaluation of environmental aspects, verification of applicable legal requirements and definition of the context and expectations and needs of interested parties. When qualitative criteria are used, we try to ensure that they are consistent and homogeneous based on experience and knowledge of the particular context of each plant. Thanks to the combination of probability and severity of the impact, their prioritization and the type of preventive action to be taken are established.

Location and contact

Address: Ctra Burgos (N-620) km 82,5 S/N, 34200 Venta de Baños, Palencia. Spain - Tel: 979.786.000 - Mail: fernando.getino@gcpv.com

Web: www.valderrivas.es

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Main and secondary CNAE Code: 23.51, 08.11

Organizational Policy

POLICY: Environmental and Energy Policy - July 2022

Mission

To develop, produce and market cement and construction materials, contributing to sustainable development, with special attention to safety and the environment, satisfying our shareholders, staff, customers and suppliers.

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Vision

Communication and participation

Communication and stakeholder engagement

As in any business project, in the Hontoria factory the participation of stakeholders in the development of the business is an essential element of its Strategy. In this way, we try to disclose our activities in a clear and transparent way to be more and better known.

Shareholders

 The channels that ensure communication and dialogue between the Group and its shareholders are as follows:

• The General Shareholders' Meeting
• Specific call center service
• Specific e-mail: relaciones.inversores@gcpv.com

Employees

The satisfaction and motivation of the Group's human team is one of our greatest challenges.

We have developed different internal communication channels that provide our employees with continuous information on our activities while encouraging their participation and involvement in decision-making related to environmental issues:

• Suggestion boxes: allow direct communication of their environmental points of view, improvement, request for information, etc. and to which there is an obligation to respond by the company within a set period of time. 
• Environmental Committees: periodic meetings between Management, Department Heads and employee representatives to discuss common issues and establish strategies for action.
• Training sessions: established in accordance with the Annual Training Plan, it is a bidirectional tool through which we transmit aspects related to the Environment and Occupational Risk Prevention.
• Works Councils and Health and Safety Committees: Another channel for conveying employees’ opinions and suggestions on issues such as Recovery and improvements in risk prevention and environmental protection. Relevant information—whether arising from these committees or initiated by the Company and employees—is disseminated through personalized letters and bulletin boards.
• Internet portal: in accordance with current legislation, the Group makes available to society the corporate website www.valderrivas.es, which allows it to comply with the requirements of the Transparency Law and the disclosure of environmental information.

The dissemination of relevant information on environmental matters, arising from environmental committees or promoted by the Company and employees, is done through personalized letters and the bulletin board.

Suppliers, auxiliary industry and customers

It is our intention to advance in the commitment to extend our Environmental Policy to suppliers and contractors, making them participants in our environmental practices in order to work in an environmentally friendly way. In this sense, we provide them with instructions for action and request information from our suppliers regarding their management, aware that the ultimate satisfaction of our customers' needs depends on the quality of the entire supply chain.

From the company, our efforts are focused on offering competitive and quality products through our Quality Management System according to UNE-EN-ISO 9.001:2015, which ensures the consistency of our main commitment to our customers, developed within a framework of respect for the environment. The communication channels established to meet the environmental information needs of these stakeholders are the Commercial Assistance Department and our Group's website.

Public and private administrations

The Hontoria factory collaborates with public and private institutions whenever possible in the promotion of initiatives or projects of interest to the community.

Local administration

Relationships are maintained on a regular basis with the local councils surrounding the facilities. The company also participates with local councils by donating cement for municipal events and street maintenance. 

Autonomous Administration

Ongoing formal communications are maintained with the Autonomous Administration. In addition, the Hontoria Factory Air Quality Monitoring Network was made available to the Administration in 2007, and validated data on air quality observed by the factory's immission stations continues to be sent.

Associations and business groups

In this sense, our achievements have been disseminated for application to other companies in the sector through our presence in OFICEMEN, the Spanish Cement Manufacturers' Association, in IECA (Spanish Institute of Cement and its Applications) and in CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Manufacturers' Association. 

Society in general

An essential element of our cultural tradition is the rootedness of our company in the territories in which we operate. For this reason, we are developing a broader vision in our relationship with social agents and stakeholders in the communities, improving the channels of communication, dialogue and collaboration. We are strengthening our relationship with social organizations through a wide variety of actions.

 - neighborhood associations, environmentalists, universities, trade unions, among others.

Guided tours of the factory and quarry

Our facility has a policy of collaboration and open doors to those who wish to request information or even visit our facilities.
It is worth mentioning that in December 2016 we received the "Bronze Recognition" recognition through the delivery of a plaque recognizing the merit of being for more than 5 years in the EMAS registry of Castilla y León. Currently, we continue to maintain this registration uninterruptedly.
In addition, we maintain with the workers' representatives the Agreement for the sustainable use of resources, the protection of the environment, the health of people and the improvement of the competitiveness of the Spanish cement sector.

Environmental emergencies 

The real environmental emergency situations and the environmental drills allow us to evaluate and update the application of the Emergency Plans designed for the factory and the quarry by the Occupational Risk Prevention Department and the environmental accident management procedures. These plans contemplate the different emergency hypotheses, the action plans for each one of them and the human teams for their execution.

During 2024, the Self-Protection Plan was activated on one occasion due to a fire on the conveyor belt transporting clinker to the dome silo. The fire was controlled and extinguished without outside assistance, using first and second response teams. 

One drill was carried out at Cantera in 2024, consisting of simulating a fire in the motor control center of the Cantera electrical room.  

Dangerous goods are unloaded in accordance with the International Agreement concerning the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road - ADR. We have an internal Safety Advisor and submit an annual report to the Competent Bodies. 

Unit Ref.: Tn Manufactured Product: Manufactured Cement + Sold Clinker

Evolution of production activity 

The wide range of products manufactured allows the ideal selection depending on the application. The cements produced in 2024 from the Hontoria factory include nine different types of products, all of them certified with AENOR's Product Certification N mark, as well as CE marking, complying with current legislation and the regulatory requirements of UNE-EN 197-1 and UNE-EN 197-2.

Environmental management and control

Fuel consumption

In 2024, the consumption of alternative fuels decreased by 19% compared to 2023, as the company prioritized clinker production over the Recovery target for strategic reasons. Despite this, the substitution rate achieved was 36.56%, while the target was 40%, meaning that 91.4% of the target was met.

The percentage of energy derived from alternative fuels is increasingly approaching the percentage derived from fossil fuels. This is due to efforts in recent years that have encouraged us to adapt to the new market for alternative fuels in a way that ensures implementation with maximum technical and economic viability. We will continue to work intensively on improving the Recovery use of biomass fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, always in accordance with best practices and respect for the waste hierarchy.

The percentage of thermal substitution by fuels derived from waste with calorific value in 2024 has decreased with respect to 2023 for the strategic reason mentioned above, reaching 36.56% compared to 50.58% in 2023 and 44.84% in 2022.

Recovery new Recovery target for 2025 is 62%, and it will continue to rise in subsequent years. A chlorine bypass has been installed in the tower at a cost of more than 5.5 million euros to improve energy efficiency and increase the Recovery alternative fuels.

ADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS Recovery

Recovery cement plants is considered one of the most efficient methods for the complete destruction of organic compounds, while inorganic compounds are incorporated into the raw materials and leave the process as part of the clinker.

• It does not increase the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted.
• It contributes to sustainable development by conserving non-renewable energy resources.
• It avoids the accumulation of waste in landfills, managing it in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
• Reduces cement manufacturing costs. 

Electricity consumption

Electricity is mainly used in the process for crushing quarried materials and grinding raw materials, fuels, and clinker, with the latter accounting for the highest percentage of electricity consumption. Regardless of production, there are certain levels of energy consumption below which it is very difficult for the facility to operate. We could call this the "baseline consumption of the factory," as the ratios do not fall below a certain level despite several years of low production. 

As for the year 2024, an increase in factory electricity consumption can be observed due to the increase in production. 

The Recovery new Recovery target for 2025 is 62%.

Evolution of specific metrics and ratios

Units of energy consumption in MWh and their ratios associated with the activity.

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Note: Renewable electricity through PPA contracts and Fortia company certificate with 4.7% renewable.

Environmental management and control

The table above shows that although we increased water consumption at the factory, there was a decrease at the quarry, so the ratios represented also increased. This may be due to occasional water leaks at the factory or to the increase in clinker production in 2024.  

Evolution of specific metrics and ratios

Environmental management and control

Public waterway receiving the discharge: Pisuerga River

Environmental management and control

Confined and diffuse atmospheric emissions

The Hontoria facilities have emission sources from the chimney, the furnace, and the rest of the processes: fuel grinding, cement, bagging, and crushing of raw materials from the marl quarry. All of these have purification systems based on bag filters or electrostatic filters, which are some of the best available techniques in the sector, and continuous pollutant measurement systems, with the exception of the bagging machines, which are checked at appropriate intervals. The recorded particle emissions, expressed in^mg/Nm3, are in all cases below the legally established limit value, which is 50^mg/Nm3 for the co-incinerating kiln and 30^mg/Nm3 for the rest of the sources, with a deviation observed in the clinker cooler filter source. Corrective actions have been implemented in the electrostatic precipitator, and emissions have been checked by OCA in source 4 on 07/22/2025, with results in compliance with the applicable standards for particulate matter.

During 2017 there was the modification in the environmental conditions by Order FYM 785/2017 which has established as emission limit value for all particulate matter sources 20 ^mg/Nm3 and 10 ^mg/Nm3 for bagging machines.

Emissions from channeled sources

Although some of the emission filtering fabrics may be worn out, they are continuously monitored and maintained so that emissions remain within the acceptable range. As soon as it is detected that any of the outbreaks is close to the emission limit, Maintenance is informed so that the deteriorated sleeves can be changed.

The combustion process of both fossil and alternative fuels generates mainly carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, whose concentration, in ^mg/Nm3 at 10% oxygen, is continuously monitored.

Data are monitored for compliance in relation to their emission limit value. 

During 2017 there was a modification in the environmental conditions by Order FYM 785/2017 which established as emission limit value 500 ^mg/Nm3 co-incinerating and non-co-incinerating for _NOx and 50 ^mg/Nm3 co-incinerating and 400 ^mg/Nm3 non-co-incinerating for _SO2.

Emission of combustion gases

 Flue gas emission values remain in similar ranges to those obtained in previous years. Our facilities have an SNCR system to control NOx emissions_.

Confined greenhouse gas emissions

In 2024, 376,724 metric tons of CO2 equivalent were emitted into the atmosphere, resulting from the decarbonation of limestone (through the conversion of limestone into calcium oxide at the high temperatures of the process), and from the combustion process due to the oxidation of carbon in fuels in the presence of oxygen, as well as the consumption of heating oil and generator sets and propane from shrink-wrapping machines. This year, we have not managed to maintain the downward trend in this factor, although efforts remain focused on achieving it. We must continue working on this, though it is equally important to note that more clinker is being produced than in recent years. It should be remembered that the narrow operating window of the kiln and the situation of the domestic fuel market Recovery influence the Recovery data. The use of alternative fuels as a substitute for conventional fuel resulted in a reduction of 44,604.86 t of fossil-derived CO2 eq in 2024, a lower figure than in 2023 (50,971.68 t of fossil-derived CO2 eq).
To a lesser extent, other emissions are generated by our plant’s operations, such as fuel consumption for material transport (816 t CO2 eq, including other minor gases) and gas refills for refrigeration systems, which totaled 15.79 tons of CO2 equivalent—all of which are direct Scope 1 emissions.

Specific greenhouse gas emissions

Our continuous concern for the reduction of emission levels has resulted in their maintenance at values below the legal limits. The data corresponding to pollutants are reported annually in the State Pollutant Emissions and Sources Register, PRTR Spain, in the form of pollutant load of channeled emissions.

Diffuse source emissions

The minimization of emissions resulting from the transfer and movement of powdery materials has been achieved through the adoption of a series of preventive measures such as paving in traffic areas, conveyor belt fairings, suction devices at transfer, loading, and unloading points, etc.
Air quality is controlled through continuous monitoring by control cabins installed by the company in the factory environment, which receive real-time data.
Immission data for 2024 have remained broadly in the same range as in the previous year, with the most significant parameters analyzed being PM-10,_NO2,_SO2, and_O3. 

The data are collected by the stations and shared with the Administration.

Sound emissions

Noise emissions in the surroundings of the manufacturing facilities generate, as an impact, nuisances to the population and fauna. In the case of the Hontoria factory, located in the vicinity of an industrial park, a highway and railroad tracks, the impact on the environment is not really significant. However, in previous years a series of actions were undertaken to minimize noise, such as the installation of doors in the crude oil mill or the replacement of blowers. An annual measurement campaign is carried out at representative points on the periphery to ensure compliance with the legal requirements established for the factory.

Environmental management and control

In 2024, less Hazardous waste was generated Hazardous in 2023, and less Hazardous waste was also generated Hazardous in 2023. The main reduction occurred in hydrocarbon-contaminated materials for Hazardous waste Hazardous in construction debris and demolition waste for Hazardous waste. However, there was a notable increase in the amount of scrap metal managed for the latter. Recovery of Hazardous waste Hazardous 30.7% of Hazardous were sent for recycling and Recovery .

Follow-up of the waste minimization plan

In 2024, efforts to reduce Hazardous of Hazardous waste continued. It should be noted that all Hazardous waste Hazardous generated during corrective, preventive, or general repair maintenance activities. 

In June 2021, the waste minimization plan for the Hontoria plant was presented for the period 2021-2024, with the fundamental objective of reducing the generation of material contaminated with hydrocarbons and fuel oil waste by at least 0.25% compared to the average of the previous three-year period.

Evolution of specific metrics and ratios