Holcim Turns Toxic Dolls Into Cement as Waste Boosts Profit

Holcim Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Bernard Fontana is turning waste into profit at the world’s largest maker of cement by burning toxic baby dolls, contraband cigarettes and old sunglasses.

Fontana, who last year became the first outsider to run Jona, Switzerland-based Holcim in its 101-year history, is ramping up the use of waste materials, instead of coal, to heat cement kilns from India to Vietnam and cut costs. The expansion into waste management is generating revenues as companies such as cigarette makers pay to burn copycat and expired goods, said Aidan Lynam, an area manager for Holcim in South Asia.