Lafarge Malayan Cement Bhd has become the first Malaysian cement company to receive the Green Label certification from the Singapore Environment Council.

The company’s president and chief executive officer Bi Yong Chungunco said its two cement products, Mascrete LH and Phoenix, fulfilled the pre-requisites to become eligible for the Green Label certification.

"Besides offering advanced solutions to meet our customers’ demands, we are one step ahead, developing technological breakthroughs in reducing the carbon footprint in cement applications," she said in a statement Saturday.

"This affirms Lafarge’s leadership and commitment to sustainable construction through innovation," she added.

Chungunco said innovation was a key focus at Lafarge as more than 50 per cent of its research and development (R&D) budget were dedicated to sustainable construction.

"We have also invested considerable research to develop innovative products such as Mascrete LH and Phoenix. The Green Label Certification is recognition and validation of our R&D initiatives as well as our leadership in producing ’green’ building materials," she said.

According to Chungunco, the Green Label certification is a milestone in Lafarge Malayan Cement’s journey to reduce its carbon footprint.

She said the company already had undertaken several initiatives to reduce the consumption of non-renewable natural resources and save energy during product manufacturing and construction.