Cement Value Chain

Decarbonizing cement production for construction is not just about tackling the cement producer’s significant emissions. Solutions to reduce CO2 can be found throughout the entire value chain, which is why every stakeholder must get involved and do their part.

While most emissions sit in the production of clinker for cement, the solution space extends far beyond the cement kiln. For example:

1. Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) still uses clinker but substitutes almost half of it with lower-carbon materials (30% calcined clay, 15% limestone), resulting in a 40% reduction of CO2 emissions in the final product.
2. Structural efficiency techniques allow us to build the same things but with substantially less concrete, such as optimized floors that save 70% of material compared to traditional flat slabs (and lighter floors in turn reduce the load on all supporting structures like foundations).

Cement production certainly counts among the harder-to-abate sectors, but that does not mean there are no solutions. On the contrary, there are so many options that it is easy to lose the overview. This is why we, at Future Cleantech Architects, have put together a mapping to provide an overview of the various solutions, their potential, and where they fit in the big picture of the construction value chain.

Find our new Cement Value Chain below!