How Sustainable Supply Chains Cut Emissions with Cement

Concrete is the backbone of modern civilisation, shaping cities, infrastructure and the literal foundations of daily life.

Yet, this seemingly indispensable material comes with a heavy environmental price. As the second most consumed substance on Earth after water, concrete relies heavily on cement, responsible for 7% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

With the global population growing and urbanisation accelerating, especially in developing nations, scaling back construction isn’t an option.

Instead, the challenge lies in rethinking how cement is produced and sourced. This is where sustainable procurement and supply chain innovation come into play. 

IDTechEx’s latest report, 'Decarbonisation of Cement 2025-2035: Technologies, Market Forecasts and Players,' examines how the cement industry can tackle its carbon footprint.

The focus is on reducing Scope 3 emissions, those generated indirectly across the supply chain, through new technologies, alternative materials and renewable energy.

Supply chains sit at the heart of this transformation, influencing everything from raw material sourcing to energy consumption.

Smarter sourcing

Traditional cement production starts with limestone, rich in calcium carbonate. To extract the required calcium oxide (CaO), CO2 is released during processing — a chemical reaction that accounts for a significant share of cement’s carbon emissions.

"Modern life is built upon billions of tonnes of new concrete each year," says Eve Pope, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx.

"Concrete has reliable characteristics and due to its excellent performance in construction applications, it is the second most consumed material on Earth (behind only water)."

To reduce this environmental impact, companies are moving beyond limestone.

Innovators such as Solidia Technologies, Brimstone, Sublime Systems and C-Crete are exploring alternative calcium sources such as basaltic rocks and calcium silicates. These materials produce cement with familiar properties without the CO2-heavy reactions tied to traditional limestone-based methods.

Some firms employ lower-temperature kiln processes, while others turn to electrochemistry or mechanochemical activation, which shifts energy demands and resource inputs. This not only changes the production process but reshapes supply chains, reducing reliance on carbon-intensive materials.

Even demolition waste is getting a second life. Heidelberg Materials has trialled reactivating old cement paste from recycled concrete, incorporating captured CO2 to further cut emissions.

Meanwhile, Cambridge Electric Cement is combining cement production with steel-making in electric arc furnaces, boosting efficiency across both industries.

The cement industry has long embraced waste valorisation — turning industrial by-products into valuable resources. Repurposing coal fly ash and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) reduces both costs and emissions.

Green cement innovators are pushing this further, developing chemistries that absorb even more waste, using techniques like alkali activation and CO2 mineralisation. These processes allow cement to harden while incorporating higher volumes of fly ash or steel slag, materials that might otherwise end up in landfills.

The implications are far-reaching. As demand for industrial by-products rises, sectors like steel and energy find new markets for their waste, creating stronger ties between industries.

Integration stabilises supply chains, reducing dependence on virgin raw materials, which often face price volatility and environmental constraints.

IDTechEx’s report highlights SCMs as pivotal for cement decarbonisation over the next decade, influencing both global sourcing strategies and supply chain logistics.

Powering cement production with renewables

While sourcing plays a critical role, the energy powering cement production is equally important.

Traditional cement manufacturing relies on fossil fuels to reach kiln temperatures of up to 1,450°C. Replacing these with renewable energy isn’t straightforward but is essential for cutting emissions.

One approach is electrifying cement production, though achieving the necessary high temperatures remains a technical challenge.

Finnish company Coolbrook has developed rotodynamic heating technology, capable of generating heat up to 1,700°C using electricity with high efficiency. This opens the door for fully electric cement plants powered by renewables.

Others, like Synhelion in partnership with CEMEX, are bypassing electrification altogether. They harness concentrated solar power, storing thermal energy and using custom solar receivers to deliver the intense heat required for cement production.

These innovations don’t just reduce emissions — they reshape supply chains, shifting dependence from fossil fuel suppliers to renewable energy infrastructure.

In the UK, CEMEX has already launched Vertua, the country’s first net zero ready-mixed concrete product.

"Vertua is part of our ambition to deliver net-zero CO2 concrete globally to all of our customers by 2050," says Davide Zampini, VP of CEMEX Global R&D.

"It is also part of our effort to accomplish a 35% reduction of net specific CO2 emissions per ton of cementitious product by 2030.

"We are confident that our customers will be receptive to this innovative offer because construction companies seek to reduce their environmental impact, in line with new environmental laws and regulations and the commitments of the Paris Agreement."

Building a business case for low-carbon cement

For companies looking to cut Scope 3 emissions, green cement presents both an environmental and economic opportunity. Even businesses not directly involved in construction can benefit through mechanisms such as carbon credits and the emerging "book and claim" model.

This system, already used in aviation to offset emissions through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), allows businesses to purchase the environmental benefits of green cement even if it’s not physically used in their projects.

Microsoft has championed this model for cement decarbonisation and it’s gaining momentum as more companies aim to meet strict sustainability targets.

Expanding access to low-carbon cement makes supply chains more flexible, helping sustainability efforts scale across industries.

As IDTechEx’s report shows, the future of cement isn’t just about new materials or energy sources — it’s about reimagining the entire supply chain to support a low-carbon world.

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