5 results that took Ultracem to Zero Waste Certification

Ultracem is a multi-Latin company in the construction and materials sector, specialising in the manufacture and sale of high-quality cement, concrete, mortar and adhesives. The company serves builders, concrete producers, precasters and the hardware trade, providing solutions for infrastructure development through high-technology production processes and a firm commitment to sustainability.

In November 2025, the organisation reached a historic milestone for the industry by obtaining Zero Waste Management System (SGZW) Certification in the Gold Category for its operation in Colombia, the highest distinction awarded, following an external audit carried out by ICONTEC. With this achievement, the company becomes the first in its sector to reach this category, cementing its position as a benchmark in sustainability, circular economy and advanced waste management.

This certification validates the rigorous implementation of the SGZW across the company's operations, showing that sustainability built into corporate strategy can translate into verifiable environmental, operational and economic results.

Outstanding performance in waste reduction and management

During 2025, Ultracem showed a structural change in its waste management, achieving a 33% reduction in total generation compared with 2024. That progress was reflected in the drop from 14,005.78 tonnes to 9,441 tonnes of waste generated, the result of a robust focus on reduction at source and the optimisation of production processes.

In parallel, the company reached high-performance recycling indicators that far exceed industry standards:

• General recycling of 98.60%
• Real recycling of 98.66%, sustained throughout the year.
• 100% recycling of the Kraft paper sacks used in the operation.
• Full recovery of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW), with 8,921 tonnes recycled, equivalent to 100% of that stream.

These results reflect the maturity of the System and Ultracem's ability to manage materials efficiently and responsibly across their life cycle.

Minimal final disposal and performance above the industry average

One of the most significant indicators of Ultracem's environmental performance in 2025 was the minimisation of final disposal. Only 1% of the waste generated was sent to final disposal. This result not only beats the corporate target set, it also places the company's performance well ahead of industrial sector standards, showing management geared towards valorisation and closing material cycles.

Operational savings and associated economic benefits

Implementing the SGZW also produced significant economic impacts. Strengthening internal CDW recycling made it possible to reach 26% recovery within the company's own operations, cutting costs linked to external management and generating substantial savings, equivalent to a 35% reduction in spending compared with 2024.

In addition, the wooden pallet reuse strategy reached 79% of pallets repaired, far exceeding the 50% target. That measure allowed savings of roughly 23% of budget execution compared with 2024, given that repairing pallets works out up to 16 times cheaper than buying new ones.

Environmental, social and organisational impacts

Beyond the technical and economic indicators, implementing the System has produced long-term environmental, social and organisational benefits. These include reduced pressure on landfill, optimised resource use, a stronger circular economy and the consolidation of a solid environmental culture among staff.

This progress positions Ultracem as a sector benchmark in sustainability, showing that responsible waste management is a strategic pillar for competitiveness, operational efficiency and the creation of shared value — results that reaffirm its commitment to continuous improvement and to adopting management models aligned with circular economy principles, marking a clear path for the sustainable transformation of the industry.

An achievement led with purpose and built as a team

Behind these results there are people, conviction and a shared purpose. The implementation and certification of the Zero Waste Management System was led strategically by a team that turned sustainability into a conscious decision and a way of working aligned with the organisation's values.

The process was headed by Julián Vásquez, General Manager, together with a team that took on the leadership with commitment and vision:

• Juan Cediel Ibáñez, Sustainability Manager
• Pedro Torres, HSEQ Director
• Gabriela Peluffo, Environmental Coordinator

At Global Zero Waste we congratulate the team behind this process and every member of Ultracem's staff who, through their daily work, made it possible for the strategy to translate into concrete actions. Every process improvement, every good practice implemented and every effort to do things better contributed decisively to this result.

This milestone shows that when there is a common purpose, leadership is shared and commitment is collective, results are not only achieved but sustained over time.

Analysis of the SGZW's operational performance

The assessment results position ULTRACEM as an organisation with exceptional performance in its transition towards the circular economy. With an overall score of 89.19 points out of 100 in the audit, the company demonstrates not only regulatory compliance but a deep integration of sustainability into its operational DNA.

For ULTRACEM, the challenge is no longer recycling — a field in which it has reached a high level of specialisation — but moving up to the higher levels of the circular economy, prioritising reduction and redesign from the planning stage onwards.

The company is in a privileged position after obtaining SGZW certification with an outstanding score. Its system is solid, properly documented and has the full backing of its leaders. By strengthening technical quantification processes at the planning stage and consolidating its focus on circular strategies, it will not only meet the standard but continue to position itself as a regional benchmark in industrial sustainability.

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