Carbon Capture Tech to Decarbonize Cement Production

Leading building materials company Holcim unveiled a new commitment to invest CHF2 billion (USD$2.2 billion) in carbon capture technologies by 2030, with a focus on mature technologies, and pledging to capture more than 5 million tons of CO2 per year.

The new commitment was announced with the release of Holcim’s 2023 climate report, which also contained an upgraded target to reduce its Scope 1 emissions per ton of cementitious material by over 22% by 2030 to 420kg, compared to its prior 475kg target. The company said that its 2030 targets are aligned with the 1.5°C framework and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Holcim was the first global building materials company to sign on to the SBTi’s “Business Ambition for 1.5°C” pledge, joining in 2020. 

Building materials are a key source of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cement production, an ingredient in concrete, accounts for approximately 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with over 900 kg of CO2 emissions generated for every 1000 kg of material produced.

Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch said: