Displaying items by tag: Sustainability

Malawi: The Germany-based Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has launched the construction of a clay calcination plant in Malawi, called the Limestone Calcined Clay Project. The Nyasa Times newspaper has reported that the government has said that increased calcined clay use can reduce domestic cement production’s carbon footprint by a third.

France: Sustainable concrete producer Materrup has shared plans for its upcoming Bordeaux precast concrete elements plant. The L’Usine Nouvelle newspaper has reported that the facility will produce precast elements from Materrup’s cement-free concrete, which it produces from uncalcined clay, an activator and a precursor at room temperature. The technology, called Clay Cement 1 (MCC1), reduces CO₂ emissions by 50 – 80% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), according to the producer. It previously opened a Euro7m 50,000t/yr plant in the Atlantisub Business Area in Saint-Geours-de-Maremne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

US: Cementos Argos subsidiary Argos Florida Cement has won the Slag Cement Association (SCA)’s Durability and Infrastructure awards at its 2022 Sustainable Concrete Project of the Year Awards. The producer won the awards for its supply of slag cement to two projects in Florida in 2021. Its involvement in the American Bridge Company’s SR 679 Pinellas Bayway Bridge – Structure E replacement won it the Durability award, while its involvement in Superior Paving’s State Road 52 realignment. Argos Florida Cement congratulated its customers, who also received the awards.

Pakistan: Lucky Cement plans to install a 34MW solar power plant at its Pezu power plant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Balochistan Times newspaper has reported that the 48GWh/yr installation will be equipped with a 5.59MWh Reflex energy storage system. Both the power plant and energy system will be the country’s largest when commissioned. Fossil fuel generation will remain online, but be shut down in the daytime, saving 26,600t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

US: Summit Materials subsidiary Continental Cement’s 1.1Mt/yr Davenport, Iowa, cement plant has become the latest US cement plant to transition to 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC) production.

Summit Materials executive vice president Tom Beck said "Our transition to PLC at Davenport aligns with the Portland Cement Association (PCA)'s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality.” He continued “It is critical that the industry comes together and acts now to create sustainable building solutions for decades to come. The US cement and concrete industries can collectively address climate change, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate barriers that are restricting environmental progress through the continued adoption of product and manufacturing innovations."

Canada: Lafarge Canada has converted its Richmond, British Colombia, cement plant to 100% OneCem Portland limestone cement (PLC) production. OneCem cement’s CO₂ emissions per tonne are 13% below the Canadian PLC average. The Richmond plant has supplied OneCem cement to the Western Canada and US Pacific Northwest customers since 2011. Since that time, it has eliminated 1.18Mt of CO₂ emissions, according to the producer.

President and CEO Brad Kohl said "Collaborating with local government and stakeholders was key to ensuring OneCem PLC’s uptake in the market, and conversion away from traditional high-intensity cement products. As industry leaders, we want to facilitate access to low carbon cements across Canada, and starting with Richmond is a big step towards making that happen."

UK: Edie has named Holcim’s chief sustainability and innovation officer Magali Anderson as laureate of its Sustainability Leader of the Year award at the Sustainability Leaders Awards 2022. The awards recognise leaders from across all sectors of UK industry. Naturalist Chris Packham hosted the event in Westminster, London.

World: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched new Net Zero Accelerator initiatives under its 2050 Net Zero Global Industry Roadmap strategy in several countries. The new initiatives will identify barriers to decarbonisation and recommend key actions in Colombia, Egypt, India and Thailand. The association will set out national roadmaps with reduction levers, identify funding possibilities and enter into policy dialogues with national governments. Together, the four countries account for 10% of global cement production.

Chief executive officer Thomas Guillot said "Last year, our industry made a breakthrough net zero global commitment. This is the next logical step as we move our focus from a global roadmap to driving decisive local action." He continued "Global cooperation between governments and industry is crucial to ensuring net zero targets are met. Our Net Zero Accelerators will offer collaboration and support to a number of target countries to help them decarbonise and align with the global roadmap. I'm proud to launch the first phase of the Accelerator programme to assist these nations in embracing greener technologies and work towards a more sustainable future together. I now call on more partners around the world to join us and be part of this movement."

Japan: Taiheiyo Cement has released its interim carbon neutral goals to 2030. The group intends to reduce its CO₂ emission intensity across the entire supply chain by 20% or more compared to 2000. Total domestic CO₂ emissions should be decreased by at least 40% compared to 2000. The company intends to invest US$820m towards these goals. Ultimately the cement producer wants to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Mexico: Cemex has published its 2021 Integrated Report. Under the report’s Climate Action section, Cemex recorded a 4.7% year-on-year decrease in its CO₂ emissions per tonne of cementitious material. Alternative fuel (AF) substitution rose to 29%, while its products’ average clinker factor fell to 75%. It was the first company to complete a global roll-out of its reduced-CO₂ cement and concrete range (Vertua). It established Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-verified well below 2°C 2030 climate action goals and joined the UN’s Race to Zero and the Business Ambition for 1.5°C coalition. It also became a founding member of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition for zero-carbon economic development.

The year also brought major Sustainability and Circular Economy milestones, including managing 57 times the volume of waste it sent to landfill, positively impacting 25m lives through its Social Impact Strategy and processing 61% of global sales through its Cemex Go digital sales platform. For the second consecutive year, its Net Promotor Score was 68, ‘substantially above’ the construction and engineering industry average.