Modernising British Standards to encourage greater flexibility and faster acceptance of cement made using circular materials is vital in the push for low-carbon construction, according to a leading cement expert.
This is the belief of Danielle Dawson, Technical Innovation Manager at Holcim UK, which is a leading provider of sustainable building solutions. With cement manufacturing accounting for a significant share of the UK’s carbon emissions, there is a pressing need for British Standards to evolve in line with emerging low-carbon cement formulations. By adopting cement made from industrial by-products, alternative and recycled materials into the standards, the UK construction sector can accelerate its transition to net zero.
Danielle said: “British Standards have long been crucial in ensuring safety and consistency across the built environment. As a pioneer in low-carbon cement and materials science, we’re creating products that dramatically reduce embodied carbon. We now see the chance to work with regulators to make sure that today’s standards reflect the full potential of these emerging formulations, so that they can enter mainstream use.”
Holcim UK is already advancing in its efforts with industry partners to produce cement blends made from calcined clays, recycled concrete fines from demolished buildings, and other industrial by-products. These materials reduce the reliance on virgin resources and close the loop on waste.
One of these advancements is currently being worked on through a partnership between Holcim and with LKAB Minerals. Through its collaboration with the industrial minerals supplier, Holcim UK will trial the integration of calcined clay - ground waste clays from the brick manufacturing process - into a wide range of products across its portfolio. The trials involve blended cement mixes that will be used in concrete blocks, paving products, and ready-mix concrete.
“While many developing cement formulas do meet rigorous performance benchmarks and are as strong as traditional cement mixes, they often fall outside the scope of legacy specifications. This means there is a challenge with adoption and procurement, as liability concerns come into the equation,” said Danielle.
“Flexibility within the standards though can help unlock these innovations that are already on the market, without compromising safety or increasing risk. At Holcim UK, we’re testing our cement blends with our industry partners continuously, and through transparent, laboratory-ratified data and tests, we can show that new cements made from circular materials are just as good as traditionally manufactured cement types. We encourage more dialogue between regulators and manufacturers so that these low-carbon materials can be recognised and scaled quickly.”
Focusing on decarbonisation is a large part of Holcim’s longer-term sustainability agenda, including becoming net zero by 2050. To read Holcim’s positioning paper on how it plans to Make Sustainable Construction a Reality, click here.
Further information about Holcim UK is available at https://www.holcim.co.uk/
