Concrete industry agrees on net-zero goals

Ten of the largest concrete companies and cement plants have coalesced around a 'real-world' roadmap towards net-zero emissions.

The consortium includes concrete companies, cement plants, architects, engineers and construction firms.

Mission Possible Partnership developed the strategy with industry input, setting out milestones and commitments needed by government, industry and inverstors over the next 25 years.

Making Net Zero Concrete and Cement Possible aims to demonstrate how the sector can reach compliance with a 1.5°C target.

The plan claims that the following emissions reductions can be made: 22% for demand through efficiency and design, a 25% in supply by replacing clinker with other materials, and 53% reduced, elminated or captured through fuel switching, decarbonisation and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS).

CCUS currently has the largest emissions saving potential of all available technologies, says the MPP, and 33-45 new CCUS plants with an annual capacity of 80Mt of CO₂ must be in operation by 2030 for the industry to stay within its carbon budget. However, new data from MPP’s tracking of green industrial projects shows that the current pipeline falls short, as projects struggle to reach final investment decision stage.