August 2017
Cement production is the world’s single biggest industrial cause of carbon pollution - 8% of total global emissions or about the same as the global car fleet. The good news is, we now have the technology to decarbonise cement production. Rethinking Cement shows how Australia can lead the world with zero-carbon cement.
Rethinking Cement outlines five strategies to tackle cement-related emissions. A world first, this is a concrete (well, cement) plan that shows how Australia can achieve a zero carbon cement sector in just ten years. Zero carbon cement is proven to work, and available in Australia now.
Rethinking Cement outlines five strategies to tackle cement-related emissions. A world first, this is a concrete (well, cement) plan that shows how Australia can achieve a zero carbon cement sector in just ten years. Zero carbon cement is proven to work, and available in Australia now.
Zero-carbon cement is proven to work, and available in Australia now. It could see Australia become a global leader with a new, sustainable industrial product.
Total global emissions from the cement industry today
A zero carbon cement industry is possible
Australia's cement industry could be net zero
Waste glass stockpiles we could use in alternative cements in Australia
Portland cement has been the world’s standard cement for nearly 200 years. The key raw material for Portland cement is limestone, which releases carbon dioxide as it is heated in a cement kiln. This process alone accounts for over 55% of cement-related emissions - or around 4% of the world's total emissions. Another 4% of the world's emissions come from the energy required to make cement.
Now, it's time to rethink Portland cement. The good news is, we already have alternative cements with far lower carbon emissions that can replace Portland cement for any purpose. For example, geopolymer cements have been in Australia for some time, require less set-up costs for new plants than a Portland cement plan, and could immediately become the go-to for non-structural cement - perfect for footpaths and precast concrete applications.
Change how cement is made to eliminate most emissions:
Get to net zero emissions:
Research carbon neutral cements and turn our build environment into a major carbon sink:
Beyond Zero Emissions briefed more than 1000 stakeholders, including government departments, engineering consultancies and major property and infrastructure companies, on Rethinking Cement.
Our strategies have featured in the mainstream media (The Conversation and The Fifth Estate) and trade press including the International Cement Review, World Cement, Inside Construction and Engineers Australia.
And, helped us win Best International Energy Think Tank in the prestigious Prospect Think Tank Awards in 2018.
