2012 Annual Report - Italcementi Group

the reference market). In the last three years, the average amount of investments was 13.6 Million Euro, 70%
for research and development and 30% for technology transfer, slightly increasing over the period.
Innovative examples of sustainable solutions for buildings are the following: i.light®, the new transparent
cement especially developed by Italcementi Group to build the Italian Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in
Shanghai; i.clime®, the innovative ecological product that reduces energy consumption in buildings; TX
Active®, the photocatalytic principle for cement products which can reduce organic and inorganic pollutants
that are present in the air; ALIPRE®, an example of high technology resulting from a production process with a
low environmental impact; i.idro DRAIN, the special mix for porous and permeable pavements, roads,
walkways and parking lots, studied for rain and storm water management.
The Group undertook an engagement to develop a methodology addressing state-of-the-art product
sustainability concepts applied to its products. The process resulted in the definition of the Product
Sustainability Index (PSI), an internal rating system of how sustainable the Group product portfolio is. This is
now at test to be then further extended at the whole portfolio. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which
quantifies a product's environmental footprint, is adopted for innovative products. The Group will also soon
publish EPD (Environmental Product Declarations) for selected products, in line with international standards.
More in general, the Group is closely monitoring and reporting the recycled content of materials, to satisfy the
requests of international rating systems for Sustainable Construction (e.g. LEED).
Research on chemical and physical processes for CO 2 reduction studies on biological valorization of CO 2 in
cooperation with GEPEA laboratories and with Algosource Technologies (AST) with the aim of reusing carbon
dioxide for the biomass production by means of micro algae. A cooperation with ICMMO (Orsay University)
laboratories started for CO 2 electrochemical valorization. Testing of large scale beams is studied with the
involvement of the Universities of Brescia and Napoli. Additional examples of innovative projects are: research
in the field of structural concretes and micro-concretes, studying products with very high strength for the repair
and the enhancement of structures and buildings under seismic hazard; thermal insulation and the consequent
saving of energy of heating or cooling systems; research of new types of clinker using improved
sulphoalluminate based products and activated slags to lower the clinker to cement ratio; studies on antibacteria
cements, on PED4PV (Pulsed Electron Deposition of thin film for photovoltaic); ClearUp for clean
buildings and resource efficiency and PhotoPaq, Demonstration of Photocatalytic Remediation Processes on
Air Quality. Detailed information is available on the corporate website
(http://www.italcementigroup.com/ENG/Research+and+Innovation/).
Innovation rate (%)
Mature markets
Emerging markets
Group
2012 2011 2010 2009
2.3 5.3 4.7 3.8
3.3 3.5 3.1 2.7
2.6 4.5 3.9 3.2
Novelty conditions* (%) (2012)
Mature markets
Emerging markets
Group
radical incremental established
37.2 2.7 18.0
37.3 4.7 -
74.5 7.5 18.0
(*) novelty condition turnover/Innovation Group turnover
341
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