GREENWASHING?

The EXCOM, Eden Mining, and Heidelberg Materials have stated that the intended project of Heidelberg Materials in Þorlákshöfn town, revolving around the production of a cement-filler, will create a “greener” cement that is normally used. 

The statements have been grandiose. For instance, on 27 January 2023, the EXCOM stated in Hafnarfréttir on 27 January 2023—that the reduction of CO2 emissions due to the production of this “greener” cement was equivalent to the emission of all cars in Iceland (on an annual basis? The statement does not clarify this further) and thereby would “influence the entire world in a positive way.” 

The author wanted to know what these calculations were based on. Therefore, he sent an inquiry to the EXCOM, Eden Mining and Heidelberg Materials spokesman in Iceland Þorsteinn Víglundsson and asked what data and documents these statements were based on, and where one could access them.[1] None of the recipients have replied.

Sólveig Hjördís Jónsdóttir asked Landvernd – Icelandic Environment Association whether the assertions of the IC, Eden Mining, and Heidelberg Materials were scientifically correct. Guðrún Schmidt replied. Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson asked Jean-Rémi Chareyre, who runs the site “CO2 and Humans” (Kolefni og menn), the same question. These two scientists replied that the veracity of these assertions was highly questionable, for instance because of the so-called paradox of Jevon. This paradox states that the greener methods become to utilize natural resources, the more these resources are used, since the economic system is geared towards constant growth and not balance. They also questioned the environmental benefits of shipping the mined materials abroad instead of using them right here in Iceland.[2]

[1] Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson, email to the EXCOM and Eden Mining, 7 April 2023; Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson, email to Þorsteinn Víglundsson, 13 April 2023.

[2] Guðrún Schmidt, email to Sólveig Hjördís Jónsdóttir, 1 February 2023; Jean-Rémi Chareyre, email to Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson, 11 April 2023.