LafargeHolcim has converted a cement plant in Texas, United States, to only produce Portland limestone cement (PLC), furthering its efforts in sustainable construction materials.
OneCem is a blended cement product by LafargeHolcim which uses up to 15 per cent finely ground limestone per tonne, reducing the amount of carbon intensive clinker used.
LafargeHolcim US cement chief executive officer Toufic Tabbara said the solutions to decarbonise were not so far-fetched anymore.
“LafargeHolcim has gone on record with our net-zero commitment, and while we’re actively investing in technology and innovations to help us get there, it’s also crucial that we take immediate steps to reduce our carbon footprint,” Tabbara said.
“Transitioning the operational focus at our Holcim Midlothian plant (Texas) to OneCem reflects our confidence in this product and in the growing customer demand for solutions that help them achieve their own sustainability goals.”
OneCem is part of the company’s Envirocore Cements which includes a range of similar products using supplementary cementitious materials.
It offers the same level of performance as standard cements but reduces carbon emissions by five to ten per cent per ton of cement.
The Midlothian plant produces 1.8 million tonnes of cement per year and a total conversion to OneCem will reduce the plant’s annual carbon emissions by more than 31,000 tonnes.
This is the equivalent of removing 6742 passenger vehicles from the roads over the same period.
LafargeHolcim US cement senior vice president of sales Patrick Cleary said this was becoming an expectation rather than an accolade.
“This is an important, but not unique, step for us. We were the first to produce OneCem – a PLC product – in one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country and fuel our industry’s step towards a zero-carbon future,” Cleary said.
“OneCem is one way we’re supporting customers who are using every tool at their disposal.”
More reading
Holcim gets greener with ambitious global targets
Sydney’s Atlassian tower wins Holcim sustainability award
Holcim’s ocean plastic recovery strengthens circular economy
Holcim 3D printing technology helps make history
Australia’s turn to benefit from Holcim’s ECOPact
Holcim contract contributes to nation-building Inland Rail