Circular construction
Circular construction is essential to decarbonizing building. Our vision is to close the construction loop by building better with less.
To do this we are reducing the footprint of buildings across their lifecycle, recycling materials to build new from old, and regenerating ecosystems to preserve our planet.
Reduce
We are building better with less.
To reduce the footprint of buildings and build better with less, Holcim continuously advances its portfolio of low-carbon materials, smart design, and solutions driving energy efficiency and green retrofitting.
We are reducing the carbon footprint of construction at scale with the world’s broadest range of low-carbon concrete ECOPact and low-carbon cement ECOPlanet, offering 100% performance with CO2 reduction of at least 30% compared to standard alternatives.
Our carbon prestressed concrete (CPC) slabs use up to 80% less materials with up to 75% lower CO2 emissions.
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3D printing can use up to 50% less materials thanks to our proprietary TectorPrint 3D printing ink technology.
DYNAMax ultimate high performance concrete optimizes material use in every new building to unlock more usable space. The thin, light precast plates made of high-strength concrete reinforced with prestressed carbon fibers have the same load-bearing capacity as standard concrete slabs and are circular by design.
Our range of insulation solutions help make buildings more energy efficient, like Elevate’s ISOGARD insulation boards range that enables roofs to achieve a better thermal performance, 40% above standard solutions in the market, avoiding heat loss. SES bio-based insulation foam makes buildings more energy-efficient in a nature-friendly way while Airium insulating mineral foam can be applied in green retrofitting applications to expand a building’s lifespan.
To make buildings last longer, our specialty building solutions include PRB and Cantillana façade systems, Tector advanced mortars and Izolbet tile adhesives.
Recycle
We are a world leader in recycling.
We recycle over 30 million tons of materials across our business every year.
We convert plastics and minerals into new alternative materials or energy sources. We also take materials at the end of their life, such as biomass and municipal waste, and turn them into alternative fuels.
Each year, we recycle nearly 7 million tons of construction demolition materials (CDM), and we’re targeting 10 million tons by 2025.
ECOCycle® is our proprietary circular technology platform to recycle CDM into new building solutions. With ECOCycle® we can recycle from 10% to 100% of CDM across a broad range of applications, from decarbonized raw materials in low-carbon cement formulation, all the way to aggregates in concrete and fillers in road construction.
Within our ECOPlanet range of low-carbon cement, we offer Susteno, the world’s first cement with 20% recycled CDM inside. Available in Switzerland, Susteno is made using high-quality material taken from demolition projects, resulting in a cement that closes the loop on CDM to build new from the old and preserve nature.
Regenerate
Our building solutions contribute to cities that are cooler and cleaner with more nature.
Cities are at the forefront of the shift to a circular economy. We enable the construction of tomorrow's greener, more sustainable and circular cities, while helping to counter the urban heat island effect.
Duro-Last’s Bright White Membrane reflects up to 88% of the sun’s energy. This ENERGY STAR-qualified membrane also releases energy and heat efficiently, greatly reducing energy costs.
Malarkey Roofing shingles contain granules that remove smog gases from the air following a photocatalytic process that turns them into water-soluble ions. By the end of 2022, Malarkey had “planted” the equivalent of over 1 million trees thanks to this groundbreaking technology.
Elevate’s green roofing systems host complex ecosystems with trees, plants and irrigation to enhance urban biodiversity.
Hydromedia permeable concrete recharges groundwater, allowing urban forests to grow. It can lower the temperature in cities by up to 6°C when used to bring greenery into urban areas. Hydromedia also helps to limit the impact of heavy flooding.
Our bioactive concrete restores marine ecosystems. Tailor-made reef design and the concrete's special formula allows rapid colonization by diverse native marine animals and plants.
Circular construction in action
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