Cemex Wins Global Water Stewardship Award for Initiative in Mexico
Cemex announced today it has been awarded Water Stewardship Programme of the Year at the 2026 Global Water Awards, recognizing its initiative to reduce freshwater use in concrete production in Mexico.
The award, presented by Global Water Intelligence at the Global Water Summit in Madrid, highlights Cemex’s “Freshwater-Free Concrete” program, which aims to replace potable water in industrial processes with alternative sources such as treated municipal and industrial wastewater.
Cemex reported a 67% freshwater substitution rate across its Mexican concrete operations in 2025, surpassing its internal 65% target for the year. The company estimates the initiative saved water equivalent to the daily consumption of roughly nine million people.
“Freshwater-Free Concrete demonstrates how Cemex is transforming water stewardship into scalable operational solutions,” said Ricardo Naya, Executive Vice President of Sustainability, Operations, and Ventures at Cemex. “By transitioning from freshwater sources to alternative water solutions, we are reducing pressure on strained water resources while strengthening the resilience and efficiency of our operations.”
