Displaying items by tag: Sustainability

US: C-Crete Technologies has poured its granite-based cement-free concrete in its first construction application at the upcoming JPMorgan Chase headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, Manhattan. Ecology, Environment and Conservation News has reported that the concrete generates no net CO₂ emissions by sequestering atmospheric CO₂ in its curing process. The concrete conforms to ASTM International standards, with a compressive strength exceeding 5000psi. Other partners on the project included engineering firm Severud Associates Consulting Engineers and construction management firm AECOM Tishman.

C-Crete Technologies president Rouzbeh Savary said "We are thrilled to introduce our new granite-based concrete at such a prestigious and iconic location. The building at 270 Park Avenue is set to become a landmark not only for its architectural grandeur, but also for its sustainable construction practices."

Severud Associates Consulting Engineers senior associate Fortunato Orlando said "The performance of C-Crete for concrete on metal deck, topping slabs, pavements and landscape work, coupled with its eco-friendly attributes, makes it a revolutionary product for the future of the construction industry."

AECOM Tishman chief operating officer John Kovacs said "Just a few years ago, constructing devoid of Portland cement and CO₂ emissions would have seemed unimaginable. And yet today, we stand as the world's first, setting new thresholds of what's possible in sustainable construction. We thank all of our partners on this project and look forward to the day when CO₂ emission-free construction is not simply an idea or a new innovation, but the industry standard across every build."

Ireland: Mannok, Sweden-based minerals company Boliden and the South Eastern Applied Materials (SEAM) research centre at South East Technological University in Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow in Ireland have launched a 30-month project to reduce the embodied CO₂ emissions of cement. The project will investigate possible uses of shale as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cement production and the CO₂ curing of cement paste-based mine backfill. Enterprise Ireland has supplied funding worth €700,000 for the collaboration.

Mannok operations director Kevin Lunney said "We are delighted to be working with SEAM and Boliden on this critical research for the cement sector, which could have many far-reaching benefits for the construction sector more generally. Finding local, viable, low-carbon solutions for the industry can make a major contribution to lowering emissions in Ireland."

Boliden specialist development engineer Adam McElroy and section-mill process head Colum Burns said "This project will greatly enhance our knowledge and understanding of the potential for developing low carbon cement for mine backfill purposes and for utilising backfill systems as a carbon sink. The project will also investigate synergies between the cement manufacturing and mining industries that could enhance the sustainability of both industries."

Azerbaijan: The Azerbaijan Cement Producers Association (ASIA) has held the third Net Zero Accelerator workshop to discuss the final report on its 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. ASIA members, construction companies and government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) all participated in the two-day event. TurkicWorld News has reported that topics include Azerbaijani cement’s clinker factor, alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate, construction and design aspects, carbon capture and related regulatory frameworks. ASIA will launch its finalised roadmap in partnership with the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

ASIA said "The association is making use of the expertise of the GCCA and ECRA to ensure our roadmap aligns with national policies."

Sweden: SaltX Technology has secured a new grant from the Swedish Energy Agency for its project ‘Demonstration of new electric kiln technology at industrial scale to enable emission-free cement production.’ This funding follows previous support for testing and optimising electric quicklime production at its test and research facility in Hofors, Sweden. The grant aims to adapt and test SaltX's technology specifically for cement production, awarded under the pilot and demonstration program. It constitutes partial funding for the work that is planned to begin in March 2025 at the company's test and research facility.

Acting CEO of SaltX, Lina Jorheden, said "It is very encouraging that the Swedish Energy Agency supports us in our work to commercialise SaltX's electrification technology for the cement industry. The grant is an important component in the upcoming industrialisation phase."

Canada: Lafarge Canada, a subsidiary of Holcim, has inaugurated a new low-carbon fuel facility at its Exshaw cement plant, in a joint effort with Geocycle Canada. The US$28m facility is supported by a US$7.4m contribution from Emissions Reduction Alberta through the government’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction fund. It will reduce natural gas consumption by up to 50% for one of the plant’s kilns by substituting it with alternative fuels (AF) sourced from construction and demolition materials, primarily wood. Geocycle will process the materials into AF. This initiative is expected to divert up to 120,000t/yr of discarded materials from landfill, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 30,000t/yr.

President and CEO of Lafarge Canada (West), Brad Kohl, said "Our commitment to building a sustainable future is at the core of everything we do. The low-carbon fuel project is a prime example of how innovation and collaboration can drive positive change, lowering our environmental footprint through the use of discarded biomass materials while closing the material loop to conserve natural resources.”

Spain: Packaging and paper manufacturer Mondi has co-founded Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain, an alliance aimed at enhancing the circularity of used paper bags within the construction sector. The alliance consists of 12 European companies collaborating to eventually elevate recycling processes for construction materials like cement, plaster and insulation. The alliance will start with paper bags, then expanding to other streams such as construction and demolition materials. The initiative aligns with the goal of increasing the recovery rate of construction byproducts in Spain, currently at 48%, according to the latest data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute.

Circular economy manager at Mondi Flexible Packaging, Carlos Martinez Ezquerra, said "This initiative demonstrates Mondi’s commitment to collaborating with industry partners across the value chain to increase recycling rates for used paper bags. It creates a scalable approach for the rest of Europe and other industries, leading to a reduction in ‘waste’ management costs and a significant increase in the valorisation rate, and supports transparency and traceability of the circular economy. We are proud to be one of the founding initiators."

Georgia: Hunnewell Cement, a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement Georgia, has launched a new project to use tyres as an alternative fuel at its Kaspi cement plant, with support from the Georgian government. The project has a budget of US$2.1m, and is expected to create additional job opportunities. It marks a shift from the use of coal and natural gas at the plant, to ‘significantly’ reduce environmental impact and contribute to sustainable development.

Economy minister Levan Davitashvili said "Our goal is to minimise environmental pollution from ‘waste’ while promoting economic development and creating added value.”

Germany: Norway-based Capsol Technologies has won a feasibility study from a German cement producer to assess the implementation of its CapsolEoP (End-of-Pipe) technology at a cement plant. The technology aims to capture 400,000t/yr of CO₂.

CEO Wendy Lam said "Capsol continues to build a position as a preferred carbon capture technology provider for the cement industry."

Austria: Holcim is set to significantly reduce its carbon footprint with the installation of a new clinker cooler system and a large-scale photovoltaic system at its Mannersdorf cement plant. The clinker cooler project is valued at approximately €10m, and aims to cut heat consumption and reduce CO₂ emissions by 18,000t/yr. Completion is expected in early 2025. The solar project will be fully operational by 2025, and will cover approximately 15% of the plant’s energy needs and reduce CO₂ emissions by an additional 12,700t/yr. 2.7MW of solar panels were erected at the site of the former chimney on the plant’s premises.

Plant manager Helmut Reiterer said "Sustainability requires decarbonisation, i.e. continuously reducing the CO₂ emissions from our production activities. We are placing an investment focus on energy-efficient production by modernising our machinery, but also on expanding green energy."

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has launched Blenture, a new brand of cement and concrete designed to reduce CO₂ emissions and promote sustainable construction practices. Blenture products, developed through significant investment in research and development, align with the company’s decarbonisation strategy to utilise recycled materials and non-fossil fuels. Blenture cements and concretes, certified with environmental product declarations by AENOR, reportedly offer a 30% lower carbon footprint while maintaining quality, strength and performance.