Displaying items by tag: sustainability

UAE: Cemex introduced its prototype 100% electric concrete mixer truck at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai on 6 December 2023. The cement and concrete producer said that the prototype can transport a full load of concrete and complete a working day on a single charge. It is fitted with a 350kw battery.

UK: The British Standards Institution has introduced a revised BS 8500 standard for concrete. The revised BS 8500 standard opens new possibilities for concrete producers to combine CEMII/A-L Portland limestone cement (PLC) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) in a wider range of exposure classes.

Mineral Products Association (MPA) chair and Cemex UK Materials managing director Lex Russell said “As the first UK company to introduce net-zero CO₂ concrete in 2020, we have the ongoing responsibility to deliver lower carbon products at scale. The incoming changes to BS 8500 are welcomed by all at Cemex as it underpins our ambitious global goal for Vertua lower-carbon cement and concrete products to reach half of all cement and concrete sales by 2025.” He added “The amended concrete standard will serve to keep us on track with our decarbonisation goals, with the primary objective to become a net-zero CO₂ company by 2050. It also aligns with our Future in Action programme to achieve sustainable excellence through climate action, circularity and natural resource management.”

US: Solidia Technologies has commenced production of its mineralised CO₂-based supplementary cementitious material (SCM) at a pilot line at its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. The pilot line increases the company’s production capacity of the SCM by a factor of 25.

Solidia Technologies senior director of strategy and business development Pradeep Ghosh said "With the dramatic increase in production capacity that the new pilot line brings, we are now shipping significant quantities of Solidia SCM to ready-mix concrete producers, transport agencies and contractors to qualify and trial our material."

Mexico: Property developer Immobiliaria Ancore will use Cemex Mexico’s Vertua reduced-CO₂ concrete in the construction of the upcoming 100-storey Rise Tower in Monterrey. Cemex will supply a high-altitude concrete pouring system for the project. The concrete supplier said that the development aims to secure LEED, WELL, Green Globes, bEQ and NMX-164 certifications.

Cemex Mexico president Ricardo Naya said “We’re honoured to be working on a project that will establish the new standard for sustainable high-rise construction in Latin America. Cemex brings vast experience in sustainable construction, providing lower-carbon building materials, lower-waste practices and zero use of potable water in our concrete production.”

US: Cemex USA supplied water-permeable concrete from its Vertua range for the renovation of the Bryant-Denny American football stadium at the University of Alabama. The producer says that this will reduce the project’s CO₂ emissions by 40%, while also facilitating rainwater harvesting and preventing the stadium’s field from flooding.

Cemex USA president Jaime Muguiro said “These types of projects exemplify Cemex’s versatility. From housing to large-scale infrastructure, we are able to deliver tailor-made solutions that best suit our customers’ needs. Thanks to our extensive portfolio of high-quality building materials and solutions, we can participate in such iconic projects and support more sustainable construction.”

UK: Recycl8 and Breedon Group have poured concrete containing Recycl8’s R8 Mix additive at the site of the upcoming Huntingtower residential block in Perth, Scotland. The R8 Mix additive contains recycled materials, helping to lower the CO₂ emissions of construction projects. Meanwhile, Breedon supplied blended cement from its Breedon Balance range of reduced-CO₂ products.

Breedon commercial manager Craig Godsman said "We are really pleased to be involved in this innovative project using Recycl8's sustainable R8 Mix concrete technology. It aligns perfectly with our commitment to decarbonisation, with the provision of lower carbon solutions through our Breedon Balance range of products.”

India: Finland-based Betolar introduced its artificial intelligence-based service for production of reduced-CO₂ concrete using its Geoprime additive at World of Concrete India 2023 on 18 October 2023. Betolar designs recipes and provides a liquid chemical dosing system and post-production services to Geoprime users. Dow Jones Institutional News reports that Betolar has concluded strategic tie-ups in South and West India, and is ‘actively planning’ further expansion.

Managing director Abhishek Bhattacharya said "Interest in our solution is growing fast in India and we have successfully demonstrated that the twin goal of sustainability and performance can be achieved remarkably faster with Betolar’s Geoprime solution.”

US: The US Department of Energy has awarded C-Crete Technologies US$2m in funding. C-Crete Technologies is developing a method for using CO₂ captured at industrial sources or from the air as an ingredient in its cement-free concrete. The binder will produce almost no CO₂ and continue to absorb more CO₂ from the air over time. It offers scalability and cost-parity with conventional cement for concrete producers, according to the developer.

C-Crete Technologies president Rouzbeh Savary said “We are committed to crafting a cement-free, carbon-negative ready-mix concrete that doesn’t just mitigate CO₂ emissions but actively contributes to reversing climate change. Our aim is nothing short of revolutionising this hard-to-abate, carbon-heavy sector.”

Bahamas: Partanna Global has unveiled its first carbon negative, climate-resilient Home for the World in Nassau. The residence will remove 182.6t/yr of CO₂ from the atmosphere. It is the first of 30 planned units, as part of a project to eventually build 1000 Homes for the World in partnership with the Bahamian government.

US: Cemex USA has poured 18,300m³ of Vertua reduced-CO₂ concrete in the construction of the Centennial Tower at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. Cemex USA says that it successfully completed the 20hr pour at the world’s largest medical complex without interrupting surrounding emergency services.

President Jaime Muguiro said “Cemex’s purpose of building a better future comes to life when we participate in projects that improve people’s quality of life, particularly in the area of health services, in the communities in which we serve. Not only are we providing expert logistics and resilient materials, but we are also providing an alternative to lower the carbon footprint of the project with our more sustainable solutions.”