<aside> ℹ️ Here you will read about:
Table of contents
<aside> ⚠️ Disclaimer: the information presented from the selected stakeholders is publicly available online, in their respective websites.
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The cement industry is composed of numerous players of all sizes, from multinational companies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For this study, we have selected the two largest cement companies in Europe by market cap as of December 2022, Holcim LTD and Heidelberg Materials (formerly Heidelberg Cement) [65]; and the European Cement Association, CEMBUREAU, which is the representative organisation of the cement industry in Europe. Academia’s perspective is also included. The objective is to have an overview of how “low-carbon cement” is understood by major market players, and identify gaps in understanding that need to be remedied to drive effective decarbonisation forward. Definitions of “low-carbon concrete” are also presented (though not assessed later in detail).
Industry
Low-carbon concrete product, called ECOPact, produces 30% less emissions than standard concrete, while maintaining the same level of performance. If regulation allows, it may also include recycled construction and demolition waste. It is made from a mix of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and admixture technology [66].
Low-carbon cement product range, called ECOPlanet, also achieves 30% less CO2 emissions compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). It includes 20% of recycled construction and demolition materials [67].
Their Portland Limestone Cement that they produce in the US, which could offer up to 10% less CO2 emissions, is also referred to as low-carbon [68].
They also claim to have a carbon-neutral concrete, called ECOPact Zero, which includes clinker-reduced cements and optimized mix design based on binder content. Process related emissions are not captured and stored geologically but rely on offsetting schemes (69).
<aside> ⚠️ Claiming climate neutrality when there is offsetting of emissions is strongly discouraged. “The trading of reductions via offsetting may result in a responsibility being fulfilled on paper, but does not change the fact that carbon is still being emitted to the atmosphere” Source: The Carbon Credits Conundrum, Bellona (2022).
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As of February 2023, as part of the ECOPlanet portfolio, they have a new product of calcined clay cement that achieves 50% lower CO2 footprint when compared to OPC. Operations are powered by 100% biomass-based alternative fuels and waste heat recovery systems [70].
While Heidelberg has invested in decarbonisation pathways, the projects have not produced any low-carbon products yet. The investment made until this point is on two different pathways: calcined clay cement, and CCS. They are also putting a focus on CCU.
They have a “criteria for sustainable products” where low-carbon cement and concrete is that that achieves 30% less CO₂ (vs. CEM I in 2020) in the case of cement, and 30% less CO₂ (vs. CEM-I-based concrete in 2020) in the case of concrete [71].
On their portfolio, they have 4 low-carbon products: