Cement forms the bones of our cities, the bridges that link our landscapes, and the homes that shelter us. Yet behind this quiet ubiquity lies a profound environmental challenge: cement production accounts for 7–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the sector were a country, it would rank as the third-largest emitter in the world. And unlike other industries, where decarbonisation often means switching to cleaner fuels, the cement sector faces a more complex puzzle: how do we reinvent a material that is, by its very chemistry, a carbon emitter?
A recent study by Norfolk State University [36.8°N, 76.2°W], the U.S. Climate Program at the World Resources Institute [38.9°N, 77.0°W] outlines a comprehensive roadmap to achieving net-zero emissions in the cement industry. Their research showcases a multi-pronged approach, combining technical ingenuity, policy intervention, and systemic change.
The challenge is immense, but so too is the opportunity.
Breaking Free from Carbon: Smarter Cement Production
A significant portion of cement’s emissions comes from the transformation of limestone into clinker, the binding agent in cement. This chemical reaction alone releases around half of the industry’s CO₂ emissions. The remainder stems from the burning of fossil fuels in kilns, electricity use, and transportation.
So, how do we decarbonise cement production?
1. Reinventing the Recipe
The easiest way to slash emissions is to reduce clinker use. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like calcined clays, recycled glass, and reclaimed coal ash can substitute large portions of clinker while maintaining structural strength. Some innovations even push for clinker-free cements, using alternative binders such as alkali-activated materials and carbon-capturing concrete.
2. Electrifying the Kilns
Burning limestone at 1400°C requires enormous energy, most of which today comes from coal and petcoke. The solution? Electrified cement production, powered by renewable energy. Technologies such as plasma burners, microwave-based calcination, and heat batteries are already being tested, with Scandinavian nations leading the way in integrating wind and hydropower into industrial processes.
3. Capturing Carbon at the Source
Where CO₂ cannot be avoided, it must be captured. Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) is set to play a pivotal role, with some roadmaps suggesting it could eliminate up to 60% of the sector’s emissions. While costly today, ongoing research and industrial pilots across Europe aim to refine and scale this technology.
4. Burning Smarter Fuels
Another way to curb emissions is to replace fossil fuels in kilns. The industry is increasingly turning to biomass, refuse-derived fuels, and even hydrogen, diverting waste from landfills while slashing CO₂ output. Several European cement plants now source over 40% of their energy from alternative fuels, a figure expected to rise with further policy support.
Smarter Construction: Cement That Works Harder
Even the greenest cement is wasted if we use more than necessary. Optimising material use and rethinking how we design and build is just as crucial as changing how we produce cement.
1. The Rise of 3D Printing and Precision Design
By using AI-driven mix optimisation, 3D printing, and performance-based design standards, the industry can cut excess material use, extend building lifespans, and reduce the need for new construction altogether. In Northern Europe, where sustainable urban planning is already advanced, these methods could become the norm rather than the exception.
2. Recycling and Circular Construction
Cement may not be fully recyclable, but it is highly reusable. Crushed concrete can be repurposed as aggregate for new buildings, cutting the demand for fresh cement. Governments can further drive change by integrating strict embodied carbon limits into building codes—as some cities like Portland and Toronto have already done.
3. Greener Procurement, Stronger Policies
Governments, as major buyers of cement for infrastructure projects, hold enormous influence. By enforcing green public procurement policies, they can steer the market towards low-carbon cement. The EU’s Green Public Procurement (GPP) guidelines and Ireland’s mandatory clinker reduction in state-funded projects are early signals of a shifting landscape.
The Role of Policy: Nudging the Industry Towards Change
Even with technological advances, cement producers won’t decarbonise on their own—policy intervention is essential.
- Carbon pricing: Systems like the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) put a financial cost on cement emissions, encouraging companies to invest in cleaner processes.
- Cap-and-trade mechanisms: These allow companies to buy and sell emissions allowances, creating financial incentives for greener production.
- Green tax credits: Offering tax incentives for investment in low-carbon cement technology reduces financial risk for companies transitioning to sustainable production.
- Advance Market Commitments (AMCs): These government-backed contracts guarantee demand for low-carbon cement, helping to scale emerging solutions.
A Future Set in (Sustainable) Stone
The cement industry is at a crossroads. The technologies exist, the policies are forming, and the demand for low-carbon solutions is growing. While there is no single silver bullet, a combination of innovation, regulation, and market forces can drive the industry towards true net-zero cement.
For Northern Europe, where sustainability is not just a trend but an expectation, this transformation is more than a necessity — it is an opportunity to lead by example. From Norwegian electric kilns to Dutch carbon-capturing concrete, the future of cement is already being rewritten.
And soon, the buildings we construct will no longer be monuments to emissions — but to progress.
Source
Kumar, S., Gangotra, A., & Barnard, M. Towards a Net Zero Cement: Strategic Policies and Systems Thinking for a Low-Carbon Future, Current Sustainable/Renewable Energy Reports (2025) 12:5, 2025-02-28
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