A start to solving our poor record on low carbon cement replacement

customers have been able to continue building, but also ensured the whole construction industry could continue to grow as domestic demand has exceeded local manufacturing capability,” says Agriogiannis.

The new product range look certain to help maintain that edge. “These new products will absolutely deliver much lower embodied carbon,” says Larcombe. “They also offer superior performance over standard cement. Depending on application there are significant benefits.

“In precast, they produce a superior, whiter finish. In marine and wastewater applications, they offer a more resilient concrete. In mass concrete they can reduce issues with heat generation during hydration. The benefits of these new products goes on and on,”

The new facility is scheduled to commence operation in late 2022. “This initiative will enable progress toward the New Zealand government’s Zero Carbon ambitions and Holcim’s Net Zero climate pledge . . . it will create downward pressure on carbon emissions emanating from construction of the built environment,” says Agriogiannis

“I’m pleased Holcim is progressing to the building phase of a facility that will import and distribute low carbon cement replacement products. Once operational, the site will enable reduction of carbon emissions via a cement replacement which can be used for applications such as infrastructure, commercial and residential projects.

The facility will be adjacent to the company’s existing cement import terminal at Ports of Auckland and, at peak operation, is expected to enable replacement of just under 100,000 tonnes of Ordinary Portland Cement, which will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Annually, this is the equivalent of removing approximately 78,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) or 40,000 cars from the roads.

Holcim was the first global building materials company to sign the United Nations Global Compact “Business Ambition for 1.5°C” initiative, with 2030 targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The company says sustainabilty is at the core of its strategy as to the make transition towards low carbon construction and driving a circular economy.

The company recently announced its 2050 goals, the first long-term targets in the building materials sector to be validated by SBTi.

Green Building Solutions

Half of Holcim’s innovation projects aim at finding building solutions that work for people and the planet, whether they are digital tools to empower sustainability and circular economy, breakthroughs in the chemical processes or shaping the future construction industry through 3D-printing.

ECOPlanet, is a global green cement range which reduces CO2 emissions from 30 percent up to 100 percent.

ECOPlanet Zero is Holcim’s carbon neutral cement range. The company is able to offset the embodied carbon of its blended cement range ECOPlanetZERO on behalf of its customers on an opt-in basis, through a transparent, third party-assured process resulting in carbon neutral cement.

Holcim has launched EcoLabel to transparently communicate the environmental benefits of its green building solutions. The label will apply to all its products that comply with its green criteria, including lower CO2 footprint and recycled content.

Holcim will only source offsets from international projects that comply with international best practice. Holcim will only purchase Offsets linked to validated Projects which are aligned with Holcim’s decarbonisation objectives. Projects may include those related to renewable energy and land use improvements.

The company uses a third party to help source real, measurable, transparent and verified carbon credits.

How does carbon offsetting work? Is carbon offsetting expensive? What happens to offsets once they have been purchased?

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