Cement and Concrete Research Network to agree focus of projects to address sustainability and emissions challenges

‘Innovandi Kick-off-Week aims to lower CO₂ footprintof cement and concrete through fostering research and development projects

Innovandi – the Global Cement and Concrete Research Network – has launched its inaugural week of online workshops, aimed at accelerating global collaboration on cement and concrete research.

The event brings together 40 scientific institutions from across the world and 30 leading industry players from across the cement and concrete sector, including cement and concrete manufacturers, admixture specialists and equipment suppliers. Over the course of the week, the Innovandi industrial and academic partners will set the key themes for future research projects to improve sustainability and decrease CO₂ emissions.

Climate action within the built environment is a key driver of innovation within the cement and concrete industry. Innovandi aims to build on the industry’s progress so far, which includes achieving a 19.2% reduction in CO₂ per tonne of cementitious product since 1990. Additionally, the proportion of alternative fuels used is now 9.5 times greater than in 1990.

Claude Loréa, GCCA Cement Director said:

“Concrete is fundamentally important to our world today and will play a crucial role in building the sustainable world of tomorrow. It is therefore critical to support and accelerate the breakthrough processes and products that will improve sustainability and decrease carbon emissions. The Innovandi Kick-off Week offers a platform for leaders from across the world of cement and concrete to collaborate with academic institutions and define the cutting-edge research that will address these challenges and help us create a better future.”

As part of a long-held commitment to a sustainable future, the GCCA established Innovandi last year as a network to connect the industry with scientific institutions and drive forward innovation focused on climate action.

Wolfgang Dienemann, Director-Global Research & Development, HeidelbergCement AG and Industrial Chair of Innovandi said:

“Innovandi offers our industry the chance to engage with institutions around the world, which are at the forefront of research, to discuss the unique challenges we face. This kind of collaboration is essential to laying the scientific foundations for the development of the innovative products and processes we need to improve our industry’s sustainability.”

Karen Scrivener, Director of the Laboratory of Construction Materials at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Scientific Chair of Innovandi said:

“The partnership between universities and industry leaders is an immensely powerful force in driving forward the innovation that will address the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. Innovandi allows us to connect with the cement and concrete industry to apply our research and help to build a more sustainable world.”

Innovandi’s work programme will be delivered through two key workstreams: process innovation and product innovation.

Process innovation includes new ways to produce cement and concrete to help reduce its carbon footprint as the industry works towards net-zero emissions. A key focal point is carbon capture and utilisation, and the development of a ‘carbon economy’ that re-evaluates CO₂ as a usable commodity rather than a waste product.

Product innovation focuses on the development of alternative binders and new mixtures to reduce process emissions during cement production. These are aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions – that account for 60% of the total emissions from the cement industry – a key goal for the sector.

The Innovandi Kick-off Week runs from 29 June to 3 July for partners to the network. The event switched to a digital format following the COVID-19 pandemic, and is the industry’s first online collaborative consortium gathering. More information on Innovandi can be found here.

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About the GCCA:

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.