Plans mark major milestone for the U.S. cement and concrete industry

DENVER – GCC today joined an ambitious journey to achieving carbon neutrality across the cement and concrete value chain by signing onto the Portland Cement Association’s (PCA) Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality and the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s (GCCA) roadmap.

The Roadmaps demonstrate how the cement and concrete industry can collectively address climate change, decrease greenhouse gases and eliminate barriers that are restricting environmental progress. Given the significant role of cement in society and anticipated infrastructure development, it is critical that the industry comes together and acts now to create sustainable building solutions in the decades to come.

“GCC is proud to be an active member in the development and launch of PCA’s and GCCA’s 2050 roadmap to achieve net zero concrete. At GCC, our 2050 roadmap will guide our actions to build a net zero CO2 world.”

CEO Enrique Escalante

“GCC is proud to be an active member in the development and launch of PCA’s and GCCA’s 2050 roadmap to achieve net zero concrete,” said CEO Enrique Escalante. “At GCC, our 2050 roadmap will guide our actions to build a net zero CO2 world.”

The roadmaps focus on a comprehensive range of reduction strategies for stakeholders to adopt across all phases of the material’s life cycle, such as reducing CO2 from the manufacturing process, decreasing combustion emissions by changing fuel sources and shifting toward increased use of renewable electricity.

Many of the solutions included in the PCA Roadmap are products, technologies and approaches that exist today – and by bringing together a variety of collaborators, PCA intends to ensure the adoption of these solutions on a broad scale. This will accomplish near-term benefits while constantly striving toward the long-term success of reaching carbon neutrality.

GCC recently announced as part of our commitment to net zero carbon emissions, that the GCC Trident Plant near Three Forks, Montana, will fully convert to Portland limestone cement (PLC), a high-quality cement that lowers the carbon footprint of concrete early next year.

“We believe that our industry must continue to provide the homes, roads and infrastructure that shape our world while, simultaneously, addressing the challenge of climate change. PLC is one piece of the puzzle to reduce greenhouse gases. Concrete made with PLC is a resilient material that easily meets the needs of our customers for generations to come.”

Ron Henley, president of GCC’s U.S. division and PCA chair of the board

“We believe that our industry must continue to provide the homes, roads and infrastructure that shape our world while, simultaneously, addressing the challenge of climate change,” said Ron Henley, president of GCC’s U.S. division and PCA chair of the board. “PLC is one piece of the puzzle to reduce greenhouse gases. Concrete made with PLC is a resilient material that easily meets the needs of our customers for generations to come.”

Industry experts, researchers, policymakers and companies along the value chain realize the multitude of solutions that must be developed across policies and regulations, technology, innovation and demand generation – creating both near-and long-term CO2reduction opportunities and constantly striving toward carbon neutrality.

The move by the members of the GCCA marks the biggest global commitment by an industry to net zero so far – bringing together companies from the Americas, Africa, Asia, including India and China, and Europe. It follows the September announcement during New York Climate Week that the GCCA has become the first global “heavy” industry accelerator for the UN’s global Race to Zero. GCCA members account for 80% of the global cement industry volume outside of China, and also include several large Chinese manufacturers.

Cement and concrete companies worldwide have committed to achieve carbon neutrality across the value chain by 2050. Addressing climate change is a global task, but each country presents specific opportunities and unique challenges, and the PCA Roadmap presents a plan tailored to the U.S. cement and concrete industry. PCA is aligned with the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s Roadmap.

“Reaching net zero means innovating a centuries-old industry,” said Gina Lotito, corporate vice president of sustainability. “These roadmaps lay the groundwork for transformation in clinker, cement, concrete, construction and carbon capture so that we can reach that goal by 2050.

View the full PCA Roadmap here.

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About GCC:  GCC believes that by growing and strengthening partnerships, together we can build a better future. GCC is a leading supplier and producer of cement, concrete, aggregates and construction‐related services in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Annual cement production capacity is 5.8 million metric tons. The company employees approximately 3,000 employees in the U.S. and Mexico. Founded in 1941, the Company’s shares are listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GCC. The Trident Plant became part of the GCC portfolio in 2018.

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. PCA members represent the majority of U.S. cement production capacity, having facilities across the country. The association promotes safety, sustainability, and innovation in all aspects of construction, fosters continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution, promoting economic growth and sound infrastructure investment. For more information, visit www.cement.org

Launched in January 2018, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is dedicated to developing and strengthening the sector’s contribution to sustainable construction. The GCCA aims to foster innovation throughout the construction value chain in collaboration with industry associations as well as architects, engineers, and innovators. In this way, the association demonstrates how concrete solutions can meet global construction challenges and sustainable development goals while showcasing responsible industrial leadership in the manufacture and use of cement and concrete. The GCCA is headquartered in London, England. It complements and supports the work done by associations at the national and regional levels.