Near-clinker-free concrete placement a success
By Adam Freill
Concrete Construction Construction Materials Green ConstructionHolcim driving decarbonization forward as it pours a commercial pad using its 99.2 per cent clinker-free cement pavement.
Holcim has successfully placed its first 99.2 per cent clinker-free concrete pavement in North America, marking a milestone in its commitment to driving innovative and sustainable building. The 30-cubic-metre slab-on-grade concrete pad was poured at Holcim’s Seattle plant in May 2024 and was engineered to withstand heavy truck traffic. Working in collaboration with Stoneway Concrete, the company says the project resulted in 74.7 per cent lower CO2 emissions than standard concrete using Type IL cement available in the market.
“Our net-zero goals are ambitious, and to get there, we need to continuously push the boundaries to decarbonize building at scale,” said Toufic Tabbara, Holcim regional head for North America. “Through cutting-edge research and development, our team of engineers have created a virtually clinker-free cement. This innovation represents a substantial reduction in carbon emissions and a major step in sustainable building.”
Holcim’s approach in this project substituted clinker, traditionally the primary component in cement production, with a slag activator, significantly decreasing the energy required and resulting in a much lower carbon footprint.
“We are thrilled to see the successful placement of our 99.2 per cent clinker-free cement in Seattle, which sets a new benchmark for sustainable construction,” stated Cory Cannon, the company’s vice-president of cement sales and logistics for Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. “This milestone is pivotal for our North American business and unlocks significant opportunities for our customers in Western Canada. With our close geographic proximity and integrated operations in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, this solution can be seamlessly extended to meet the growing demand for low-carbon building materials in the Canadian market.”
Early commercial pours are taking place over the summer months.
“As a leader in our industry, we believe in setting the standard for product innovation and sustainability,” added Cannon “We’re pleased with the positive reception from our customers, showing the industry’s readiness to embrace these advancements.”
