Cemex and the Panamanian Authority of Aquatic Resources (ARAP), with Audubon Americas as a facilitating partner, are working together to address the growing threat of ‘ghost nets’ – discarded fishing nets that endanger marine ecosystems in Panamanian waters.
Cemex will process the collected fishing nets through Regenera, its waste management business, repurposing them as an alternative fuel in its cement kilns. This way, Cemex provides a circular solution to waste and pollution, extending the life cycle of products, reducing reliance on virgin materials, and contributing to environmental restoration.
"Cemex Regenera transforms waste materials into more sustainable solutions by using them as substitutes for more expensive and carbon intensive fossil fuels in our cement production processes," said Jaime Muguiro, CEO of Cemex. “This project showcases the transformative power of collaboration and resource-efficient practices.”
"In the past four years, over six tons of abandoned nets and plastic have been removed from Panama’s coastal waters, benefiting the fishing sector by improving fish habitats and reducing fishing gear entanglement," said Eduardo Carrasquilla, General Administrator of ARAP.
"By protecting these habitats, which are critical as natural carbon sinks and marine biodiversity, we are also fighting against climate change," said Julio Montes de Oca, Director of Coastal Resilience at Audubon Americas.
‘Ghost nets’ trap and kill a significant number of marine animals, such as fish, crustaceans, sea turtles, sharks, and whales in the Gulf of Panama. They can also cause further destruction by impacting shorelines, damaging coral reefs, and affecting the country’s fishing industry. Panama became the first country in Latin America to join the UN's Global initiative ‘Against Ghost Gear.’
Cemex’s Regenera promotes a collaborative circular economy by helping partners optimise waste streams for resource recovery. This model addresses global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss by reducing reliance on finite resources and creating positive community benefits.
Regenera is part of Future in Action, Cemex's programme to achieve sustainable excellence through climate action, circularity, and natural resource management with the primary objective of becoming a net-zero CO2 company by 2050.
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