The organization becomes the first within the construction materials industry – and is currently only the fourth in the world – to obtain the EDGE Lead Certification.
Holcim (Colombia) S.A., one of the leading manufacturers of building materials in Colombia – and a company of the Holcim group – has earned EDGE Lead level certification having undergone an independent third-party assessment and verification of where it stands in terms of gender equity within its workforce. Holcim (Colombia) S.A. is currently only the fourth organization worldwide to reach the Lead level of EDGE Certification – the level which celebrates success for workplace gender equity – and is setting an example within the male-dominated construction materials industry.
EDGE is the leading global assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity. The EDGE Lead level is the third and highest EDGE certification level, and in achieving it Holcim (Colombia) S.A. has demonstrated that it has successfully reached the EDGE global standard for equitable gender representation and pay across its talent pipeline. It has also shown that it has an effective framework of policies and practices to ensure equitable career flows, as well as an inclusive workplace culture for both the male and female employees.
As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim group is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards around the world. It puts its people and communities at the heart of its success.
The EDGE Certification process involves a rigorous third-party review and assessment. It revealed that the share of women at most management levels within Holcim (Colombia) S.A. has increased since the previous assessment in 2019 – a significant achievement within the construction materials industry. An integral part of the assessment is a comprehensive employee survey to assess perceptions of career development opportunities in the workplace and the company’s employees reported positive experiences and optimism when it comes to equal pay, recruitment and promotion opportunities, leadership development training and mentoring, as well as flexible working and organizational culture.
Holcim (Colombia) S.A. was originally EDGE Move certified in 2016, gaining recertification in 2018 and 2019 at the EDGE Move level, which is awarded to those organizations demonstrating progress on their gender equity standards. It is still the only organization in the construction materials industry to obtain the EDGE Lead certification, the fourth organization globally to celebrate its success with the EDGE Lead level.
Marco Maccarelli, CEO of Holcim (Colombia) S.A., says the organization is maintaining gender representation across all levels of its workforce: “We are thrilled that we achieved EDGE Lead certification, the top certification level. This has been a process of several years of hard work on the part of many leaders committed to reaching the highest gender equity standards.
“This recognition benefits not only our organization,” he says, “but also our customers, suppliers, communities and all our business value chain. We are all aligned with the principle of well-being, progress, sustainability and development that inspires us at the global level and that positively impacts both our sector and our country in this field. Many thanks to all who made this possible.”
Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation, congratulates Holcim (Colombia) S.A on its success: “Achieving EDGE Lead certification is a significant achievement for any organization, and Holcim (Colombia) S.A. is certainly setting an example in the male-dominated construction materials industry.
“Success can be attributed to its commitment to gender equity which has been supported by company’s proactive management of pay equity, and the strengthening of its policies and practices in the areas of recruitment and promotion, leadership development training and mentoring, and flexible working models. Its intentional and measured approach has allowed Holcim (Colombia) S.A. to become the fourth organization with an EDGE Lead level certification,” says Aniela.
EDGE Lead certification for Holcim (Colombia) S.A. follows the recent recertification of Holcim Switzerland at EDGE Move level.
ABOUT HOLCIM (COLOMBIA) S.A.
Holcim (Colombia) S.A. is a company of the Holcim group, a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions that builds progress for people and the planet.
As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its strategy Holcim is becoming a net zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving the circular economy as a world leader in recycling to build more with less.
Holcim is 70,000 people around the world who are passionate about building progress for people and the planet.
ABOUT EDGE CERTIFICATION
EDGE is the leading global assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity. EDGE Certification involves a rigorous third-party review of representation across the pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices, and inclusiveness of an organization’s culture. As an integral part of the assessment, statistical data is analysed, policies and practices are reviewed and employees’ experiences of career development opportunities in the current workplace are accounted for. Depending on the specific results of each organization, an action plan is formulated, and firm commitments towards its implementation.
EDGE Certification meets organizations where they are in their gender balance journey (EDGE) and in their intersectional equity journey (EDGEplus) through its three levels of certification: Assess, Move and Lead. A certification at the EDGE Assess level recognizes commitment, one at the EDGE Move level showcases progress and a certification at the EDGE Lead level celebrates success in fostering gender equitable workplaces. An EDGEplus certification further recognizing its commitment to analysing intersectional issues between gender and one or several of the following additional dimensions: gender identity, race/ethnicity, LGBTQI+, working with a disability, and age.
EDGE Certification is built around the independent third-party certification of data and information and is distinguished by its rigour and focus on impact granted by one of the EDGE accredited independent third-party certification bodies – SGS, Intertek or FloCert, it remains valid for a period of two years. EDGE’s current customer base consists of over 200 large organizations in 50 countries across five continents, representing 30 different industries.
