Businesses and Industries Embracing a Concrete Pledge for a Zero-Emission Future: The Significance of Research, Development, and Innovation
In a significant stride towards a greener future, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is spearheading key strategies and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in the concrete industry and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The association, which accounts for 80% of global cement production capacity outside of China, has launched the GCCA 2050 Net Zero Roadmap, a comprehensive plan outlining the path to carbon neutrality. The roadmap encompasses various elements, including a commitment to net-zero emissions, roadmap implementation, innovation and transition support, embodied carbon assessment tools, global and regional adaptation, collaboration, and advocacy.
The core of the GCCA's strategy is the commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal, adopted by GCCA and its member companies, makes cement and concrete the first global essential industry to adopt such a long-term goal. The roadmap sets pathways to reach net zero across the entire cement and concrete value chain, including reducing the carbon footprint of clinker production, adopting low-carbon technologies, and improving efficiency.
The roadmap also fosters innovation, industrial transition, and market development for low-carbon cement and concrete products. It encourages collaboration between government and industry to undertake decarbonization projects, invest in R&D, and update codes and standards to support cleaner construction materials.
One such initiative is the Global Cement and Concrete Research Network (GCCRN), a hub for pre-competitive research on materials and technologies, connecting over 450 scientists and 75 PhD researchers globally. The GCCRN has launched 10 core projects financed by the industry, with 30 PhD researchers actively involved in them, covering various topics related to low-carbon concrete production.
The GCCA is also supporting tools such as the Building Emission Assessment Tool (BEAT), launched with the Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project, which quantifies and helps reduce embodied and operational carbon emissions throughout the building lifecycle. This web-based platform enhances carbon accounting transparency and encourages adoption of low-carbon materials in rapidly developing Asian markets.
In addition to these efforts, the GCCA is working with various stakeholders in the built environment to overcome procurement and resourcing challenges and advance the business case for greener technologies through its Zero Roadmap Accelerators.
The concrete industry is also taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint through innovative methods. For instance, Votorantim Cimentos in Brazil is using discarded Acai fruit pits as biomass for energy production. Similarly, Cemex, a GCCA member, is producing clinker using solar energy in collaboration with Switzerland-based Synhelion.
The GCCA's efforts are further demonstrated through the Innovandi Open Challenge, a programme that brings together start-ups and leading cement and concrete companies to work on decarbonization projects. The first Innovandi Open Challenge, launched in 2021, primarily focused on carbon capture and utilization, with two projects already progressing to the pilot stage. The second year of the challenge has seen 15 start-ups shortlisted to help find new materials and processes for making low-carbon concrete.
The webinar, "Webinar #4: Collaborative RD&D for Business and Industry," organised by the CTCN and developed together with Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive at Global Cement and Concrete Association, provided insights into these initiatives and the progress made so far. The recording of this webinar is available for those who missed it.
The concrete industry's commitment to sustainability is transforming the industry landscape by fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and demanding environmentally responsible practices. Through its multi-pronged strategy, the GCCA aims to pave the way for a more sustainable future, making cement and concrete a key player in the global fight against climate change.
The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is not only focusing on reducing carbon emissions in the cement industry, but also fostering innovation through the Global Cement and Concrete Research Network (GCCRN). This research hub connects scientists worldwide, working on low-carbon concrete production.
In line with its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, the GCCA is also supporting the Building Emission Assessment Tool (BEAT), which quantifies and reduces carbon emissions in the building lifecycle, particularly in rapidly developing Asian markets.
Furthermore, the GCCA is working on developing greener technologies through the Innovandi Open Challenge, a program that brings together start-ups and leading cement and concrete companies to work on decarbonization projects. The second year of this challenge has seen 15 start-ups shortlisted to help find new materials and processes for making low-carbon concrete, demonstrating the industry's commitment to a more sustainable future.
