By Jason Straka Reducing net carbon dioxide emissions in finished concrete is a critical endeavor for the industry. As portland cement production accounts for a measurable percentage of global man-made CO2 emissions, stakeholders are under a microscope to change the way they finish binders and develop new approaches that are more sustainable through the entire cycle of concrete production. From…
Read MoreSources: Cemex USA, Houston; CP staff Cemex USA has delivered more than 1 million yd. of Vertua for public and private projects in California, where the lower carbon mix recently debuted as part of the producer’s Future in Action program. When measured on embodied carbon metrics, Vertua offers carbon dioxide emission reduction of at least 30 percent when compared to…
Read MoreGeopolymer concrete and fiber-reinforced polymer rebar can be the perfect match for sustainability in structural applications. Steel and concrete have a love-hate relationship. Steel brings tensile strength to concrete, making it stronger for structural applications. Alas, concrete lets water seep into the relationship and corrode the hope for a lasting union. To fix this marriage, Dr. Ruth (Westheimer) has been…
Read MoreSources: Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff Portland Cement Association members are marking the first year of their Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality by 2050 by highlighting key deliverables for public and private construction market stakeholders. Released in mid-October 2021, the Roadmap outlines strategies in a value chain—Clinker, Cement, Concrete, Construction, Carbonation—through which cement producers and their downstream partners can…
Read MoreSources: National Cement Company of Alabama, Birmingham; CP staff Executives of National Cement of Alabama and Paris-based parent Vicat Group staged a July 21 dedication of a new production line at their Ragland, Ala. plant. A Kiln 2 ribbon cutting capped a two-year, $300 million project that brings annual Ragland capacity to 2 million tons and assures a sharp reduction…
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An unprecedented research, development and commercialization project under the Global Cement and Concrete Association, London, aligns multinational producers and proprietors of technologies aimed at streamlining or capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide emissions from cement plants or other major industrial sources. The project teams permutations of major European, Latin American and Asian cement producers behind six start-ups selected for GCCA’s inaugural…
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Sources: Holcim US, Chicago; CP staff Holcim North America has taken a financial position in Blue Planet Systems Corp. of Los Gatos, Calif., joining three other marquee investors that have announced stakes in the carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) technology developer since 2020: Knife River Corp., Mitsubishi Corp. and Chevron. Their capital supports commercialization of a process that mineralizes…
Read MoreThe most recent New Buildings Institute (NBI) report presents language to incorporate embodied carbon requirements in codes, and explains the need for jurisdictions to address such criteria for materials or products with the highest carbon dioxide emissions factors. “Lifecycle GHG Impacts in Building Codes” presents potential CO2 benchmarks or thresholds for ready mixed concrete, rebar and structural steel based on…
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A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) survey of cement and concrete production builds on U.S. General Services Administration measures, noted here last month, to guide federal construction procurement policy toward lower embodied carbon levels in finished structures. Along with the Departments of Defense and Transportation, General Services stands to favor material or product specifications backed by carbon data presented in…
Read MoreSources: CarbonBuilt, Los Angeles; Master Builders Solutions, Cleveland; CP staff A CarbonBuilt and Master Builders Solutions collaboration will focus on formulating admixtures augmenting the former company’s low carbon concrete technology platform. CarbonBuilt’s Reversa process uses carbon dioxide to optimize portland cement contents in mix designs and raise finished concrete performance. New admixtures developed with Master Builders Solutions could position CarbonBuilt…
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