These goals represent a historic opportunity for Latin America and the Caribbean by addressing critical regional priorities such as eradicating extreme poverty, reducing inequality, fostering inclusive economic growth with decent work, building sustainable cities, and addressing climate change, among others.
Progreso’s commitment to these global goals reflects its dedication to ending poverty, protecting the planet, and improving the quality of life for communities worldwide.
As a pioneering signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, Progreso aligns its sustainability efforts through four key pillars that intersect with at least 10 SDGs, demonstrating a clear path for impactful and efficient sustainability policies.
A Commitment to Development
Progreso voluntarily structured its Code of Values, Ethics, and Conduct (COVEC) and Leadership Agenda around the four Global Compact principles: human rights, environmental protection, anti-corruption, and labor standards. These principles ensure empathy and accountability in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Strategically, Progreso focuses on several key areas: health and well-being, clean energy, decent work and economic growth, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption, climate action, terrestrial ecosystem preservation, and partnerships to achieve the goals.
For example, the Social Management team at the San Gabriel plant promotes inclusive policies that provide neighboring communities with better access to water, sanitation, infrastructure, and technical training to enhance their productivity. “I am very grateful and fulfilled to know that through collective effort, we are building the country we want to live in,” said Jimena Concoha, a community manager.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Management team provides guidance on the proper management of terrestrial ecosystems, protecting plant and animal species within Progreso’s operations.
Giovani López, environmental management coordinator, says: “I am proud to work at Progreso because we have a responsible environmental policy that safeguards terrestrial ecosystems within our operations. This ensures clean water, climate regulation, and healthy landscapes”.
It is important to highlight that the cement industry at the regional level plays a key role in achieving the 2030 Agenda, particularly in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty); 2 (Zero Hunger); 3 (Good Health and Well-being); 4 (Quality Education); 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation); 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure); 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production); 13 (Climate Action); and 15 (Life on Land).
SDGs as a Priority at Progreso
Progreso is one of the signatory companies of the United Nations Global Compact. The four pillars that guide the company align perfectly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—one of the most important frameworks the group has adopted to efficiently develop its sustainability and development policies. The following are some of the actions carried out to ensure compliance with these goals.
- No Poverty: Progreso develops inclusive policies and prioritizes social programs to ensure that neighboring communities have better opportunities (access to water, sanitation, infrastructure, etc.).
- Quality Education: At the Enrique Novella Alvarado School, Progreso fosters critical, analytical, creative, responsible, and empathetic thinking in students, preparing them to face future challenges effectively.
- Decent Work and Economic Growth: Community development programs are designed to provide training and specialized technical and administrative assistance to young people, entrepreneurs, and women. Additionally, Progreso hires local suppliers to support community economies.
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: In the innovation and projects area, continuous efforts are made to explore solutions or barriers affecting the construction value chain. Progreso Labs leads these efforts by constantly searching for disruptive processes.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities: Social programs for employees are based on five pillars: education, nutrition, health, family economy, and housing. Through “Together for Your Home,” employees receive support to build their first home or renovate or expand their existing one.
- Responsible Consumption and Production: Through Proverde, the co-processing of waste in cement kilns is a policy that enhances production efficiency by replacing fossil fuels with alternative fuel derived from waste.
- Climate Action: The environmental management department runs the Environmental Education Program, which has helped educate over 45,000 people on climate change mitigation and adaptation since 2016.
- Life on Land: The environmental management department focuses on protecting terrestrial ecosystems within the company’s areas of operation and surrounding communities.
At Progreso, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a fundamental guide for enriching and renewing internal policies, decision-making, and governance-driven changes.
From this perspective, the company and its business units work to ensure that the SDGs function as a “cross-cutting axis” to drive productivity, inclusive economic growth, and decent employment opportunities in the country.
