The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) announced that forty of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers have come together to commit to cut carbon dioxide emissions by a quarter by 2030. This is a major statement in the association’s race to produce carbon-neutral concrete by 2050. 

This move, according to the GCCA, marks the largest global commitment by an industry to reach net-zero. GCCA members account for 80% of the global cement industry volume outside of China, along with several large Chinese manufacturers. The association has published a detailed roadmap that lays out the path the industry will follow to reach the half-century goal. The GCCA notes that the roadmap actions between now and 2030 will prevent almost 5 billion tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere. 

The plan includes identifying and implementing more alternatives to clinker, the primary component of Portland cement, significantly reducing fossil fuel use and using more alternative fuels, accelerating innovation in products, developing infrastructure for carbon capture, usage, and storage, improving efficiency in the design and use of concrete during construction, and establishing a policy framework to achieve the net-zero goal.

As reported by Reuters, GCCA Chief Executive Thomas Guillot said 10 industrial-scale carbon-capture plants pledged in the roadmap would be built and paid for by members by 2030. 

“Concrete is the world’s most used building material and provides the foundation for renewable energy transition, resilient infrastructure and new homes around the world,” said Guillot.

“Global cooperation on decarbonizing concrete is a necessity, as countries developing their infrastructure and housing will be the biggest users of concrete in the coming decades. I am proud of the commitment made by our members today to take decisive action and accelerate industry decarbonization between now and 2030, an important milestone towards the ultimate goal of net-zero concrete. I envision a world in the not too distant future where the foundation of a sustainable, zero-carbon global economy will literally be built with green concrete.”

The GCCA’s net-zero roadmap can be viewed in detail here.