How Green Cement Could Reduce Scope 3 Emissions

Concrete might be the backbone of modern civilisation, but it comes with a heavy carbon cost.

As the second most consumed material on Earth after water, concrete relies on cement, which accounts for 7% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

With the global population increasing and urbanisation accelerating, especially in developing countries, cutting construction isn’t an option.

As a result, industry leaders are now rethinking cement production through supply chain innovation.

IDTechEx's latest report 'Decarbonisation of Cement 2025-2035: Technologies, Market Forecasts and Players' dives into this very challenge.

It explores how companies can reduce Scope 3 emissions, those generated indirectly in a company’s value chain, by adopting new green cement technologies. From alternative materials to renewable energy, supply chains are at the heart of this transformation.

The traditional cement supply chain starts with limestone, rich in calcium carbonate.

However, to extract the necessary CaO (calcium oxide), CO2 must be released, creating a substantial carbon footprint.

Eve Pope, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, explains: "Modern life is built upon billions of tonnes of new concrete each year. Concrete has reliable characteristics and due to its excellent performance in construction applications it is the second most consumed material on Earth (behind only water)."

To reduce this impact, green cement innovators are looking beyond limestone. Companies such as Solidia Technologies, Brimstone, Sublime Systems and C-Crete are experimenting with alternative calcium sources such as basaltic rocks and calcium silicates.

These materials can produce cement with familiar, reliable properties while sidestepping the CO2-heavy chemical reactions of limestone-based production.

Each company takes a different approach. Some use lower-temperature kiln processes, others rely on electrochemistry or mechanochemical activation — techniques that shift energy demands and resource inputs, creating new dynamics within supply chains.

Even demolition waste is being reimagined. Heidelberg Materials has trialled reactivating cement paste from old concrete, integrating captured CO2 in the process.

Meanwhile, Cambridge Electric Cement is developing a method that combines cement production with steel-making in electric arc furnaces, enhancing efficiency across industries.

Turning industrial by-products into cement

The cement industry has long embraced waste valorisation — transforming waste materials into valuable resources.

Repurposing industrial by-products like coal fly ash from energy production and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) from steelmaking as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is well-established. This not only reduces costs but also lowers emissions, as less traditional cement is required.

However, green cement innovators aim to push these practices further. Alternative cement chemistries are being developed to incorporate even greater volumes of industrial waste.

Techniques such as alkali-activation and CO2 mineralisation are key. These processes allow cement to harden and gain strength while using more fly ash or steel slag, materials that would otherwise go to landfill.

The supply chain implications are significant. As demand for these waste materials grows, industries like steel and energy will find new markets for by-products, creating tighter links between sectors.

This integration can also stabilise supply chains by reducing reliance on virgin raw materials, which are subject to price volatility and environmental constraints.

IDTechEx’s report highlights that SCMs will play the biggest role in cement sector decarbonisation over the next decade. Trends in SCM adoption will shift the global average composition of cement, influencing both material sourcing and supply chain logistics on a massive scale.

Powering cement production with renewables

Another game-changer for cement supply chains is energy. Traditional cement production relies heavily on fossil fuels to achieve the high temperatures needed — up to 1,450°C in kilns. Replacing these with renewable energy isn’t simple, but it's essential for decarbonisation.

Electrifying cement production is one approach, but achieving the necessary temperatures efficiently remains a challenge.

Companies such as Coolbrook, based in Finland, have developed rotodynamic heating technology. This innovation can generate heat up to 1,700°C using electricity with high conversion efficiency, opening the door for fully electric cement plants.

Alternatively, Synhelion, working with cement giant CEMEX, skips the electrification step altogether.

Instead, it harnesses concentrated solar power, storing thermal energy and using custom solar receivers to deliver the intense heat required. These technologies not only reduce emissions but also reshape energy supply chains, shifting dependence from fossil fuel suppliers to renewable energy infrastructure.

In 2020, CEMEX launched the UK's first net zero ready mixed concrete product. Its Vertua low carbon concrete range is designed to offset residual CO2 and provide a CarbonNeutral concrete product.

“Vertua is part of our ambition to deliver net-zero CO2 concrete globally to all of our customers by 2050," comments Davide Zampini, VP of CEMEX Global R&D.

"It is also part of our effort to accomplish a 35% reduction of net specific CO2 emissions per ton of cementitious product by 2030.

“We are confident that our customers will be receptive to this innovative offer because construction companies seek to reduce their environmental impact, in line with new environmental laws and regulations and the commitments of the Paris Agreement.”

The business case for low-carbon cement

For businesses aiming to lower Scope 3 emissions, green cement offers new opportunities, even if they don’t directly control construction projects.

Mechanisms such as carbon credits and the emerging "book and claim" model are making it easier for companies to participate.

The system, already used to offset emissions in aviation through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), allows businesses to purchase the environmental benefits of green cement even if the actual product isn’t physically used in their projects.

Microsoft has championed this approach for cement decarbonisation and it’s gaining traction as companies seek to meet sustainability targets.

By expanding access to low-carbon cement, supply chains become more flexible, enabling sustainability efforts to scale faster across industries.

As IDTechEx’s report outlines, the future of cement isn’t just about new materials or technologies — it’s about transforming the entire supply chain.

Explore the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today. 

Supply Chain Digital is a BizClik brand.