UK: SigmaRoc subsidiary CCP has launched Greenbloc Standard, Ultra and Premium. The new designations correspond to 50%, 80% and 100% cement substitution. Professional Builder News has reported that Using Greenbloc Standard reduces structures’ CO2 emissions by 77% compared with structures built with conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based blocks. For an average semi-detached house, this is equivalent to 2.7t of CO2.

CCP general manager Phil Rotheram said “The expansion of our Greenbloc range continues our commitment to sustainable alternatives to our product offering as we fully commit to the challenges of removing embodied carbon from the built environment.”

Greenbloc Ultra featured in a gold medal-winning garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 in May 2023.

Brazil: Eternit has launched Eternit Solar, a fibre cement photovoltaic roof tile, across Brazil. Local press has reported that the tile has a power capacity of 142Wp, compared to 15Wp for conventional tiles. It is fully compatible with conventional fibre cement roof tiles in roof construction. Eternit says that four to six tiles will provide sufficient energy for a single home. The company tested the product in partnership with the Energy and Environment Institute of the University of São Paulo (IEE-USP) and the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). It produces the Eternit Solar tiles at its Atibaia plant in São Paulo, but plans to subsequently build a dedicated plant.

Eternit president Luís Augusto Barbosa said "The commercialisation of Eternit Solar is an important step for the future of the company. While the concrete photovoltaic tile is aimed at a niche market, the fibre cement photovoltaic tile is intended for high-volume applications. It is a revolutionary technology that will benefit a larger section of the population due to its more accessible cost.” He concluded “Eternit is on the market to democratise solar energy.”

Europe: 12 decarbonisation-focused companies from across the European cement and concrete sector have launched the Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement & Concrete (ALCC). The alliance has called on policymakers to change building standards to help low-carbon alternatives to enter the cement and concrete markets. It further said that green procurement and targeted financing instruments would help to reduce sectoral CO2 emissions. It said that a progressive decline in clinker factor to 60%, 50% or 40% by 2050 will reduce CO2 emissions by over 50%. The ALCC says that it is ready to lead the sector towards a swift, low-cost and viable decarbonisation pathway. Participants in the alliance include France-based Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, Ireland-based Ecocem and US-based Fortera.

Fortera's Europe director Thierry Legrand said "Climate action is a global priority, and collaboration is essential to advancing emissions-reducing technologies and policies. This alliance represents collective action by scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and environmental advocates to reduce CO2 emissions from cement production."

India: Nuvoco Vistas has commissioned its new Vizag ready-mixed concrete batching plant in Andhra Pradesh. The facility will produce the company's Concreto and Artiste general purpose and decorative ready-mix concretes, as well as its InstaMix bagged ready-mix concrete. The cement company says that the new concrete plant is 'strategically located' to contribute to the transformation of the region into a hub for smart cities and industry. Projects Today news has reported that the Vizag batching plant is the second opened by the company, after another in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

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