Fortune recognises CEMEX as a world changing company

CEMEX; the Mexican building materials company that is majority shareholder of Trinidad Cement Limited, has been included in the Fortune 2017 Change the World List.

This list is a ranking that highlights 50 companies worldwide that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. With its inclusion in Fortune’s 2015 list, this marks the second time that CEMEX has been recognised among the world’s top 20 companies in this ranking.

CEMEX said Fortune recognised its efforts "to foster sustainable building practices" by highlighting CEMEX's 'Growing' platform, which encompasses the company's social and inclusive businesses such as Construyo Contigo (Building Together), ConstruApoyo, Yo Construyo (I Build), and Clean Cookstoves.

"Through these diverse, innovative solutions," CEMEX said its 'Growing' platform "goes beyond self-construction businesses to fight poverty, low-quality education, unhealthy homes, unemployment, lack of capabilities, poor access to financial aid, and lack of civic participation. By 2016, these platforms had provided affordable and dignified housing to over three million people in Latin America."

CEMEX added that it is committed to continue creating shared value through social innovation, by creating and strengthening its alliances with think tanks, the private sector, universities, NGOs, and community partners.

CEMEX CEO, Fernando A. Gonzalez, said the company was "once again honoured by Fortune’s recognition of our effort and commitment to foster global, sustainable building practices. The ‘Growing’ platform has enabled us to work across our value chain with governments, micro-finance entities, low-income communities, and social entrepreneurs to build over four million square meters of liveable space."

Fortune assembled the 2017 Change the World List with the help of the non-profit social impact consulting firm FSG and its Shared Value Initiative organization. To select the 50 companies, Fortune considered three criteria: measurable social impact, the business result in terms of profitability of the socially impactful work, and degree of innovation.