Foundations of Change: The Next Frontier of Cement and Concrete Innovation

This report by RMI examines the decarbonization of the cement and concrete sector, which contributes nearly 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. It outlines a strategic framework for innovation categorized as "Make Less," "Make Better," and "Make New," while highlighting the funding gap and the necessity of updating prescriptive industry standards to performance-based specifications to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon materials.

• The cement and concrete industry is a major global emitter, with nearly 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions originating from the sector. The majority of these emissions, approximately 88 percent of concrete's carbon footprint, result from the production of clinker, which involves heating limestone in kilns to about 1450 degrees Celsius using fossil fuels and triggering a chemical reaction that releases CO2.
• There is a significant investment gap in the sector's decarbonization. While the World Economic Forum's Net-Zero Industry Tracker 2024 estimates that $1.4 trillion in cumulative investment is needed by 2050 to reach net-zero, cement and concrete have received less than 1 percent of climate tech venture capital over the last five years, totaling roughly $1.4 billion out of $205 billion.
• RMI and Third Derivative propose a three-pronged innovation strategy: "Make Less" focuses on reducing demand through smarter design and recycling (potentially achieving 22 percent of needed reductions by 2050); "Make Better" involves improving existing processes via supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and energy efficiency; and "Make New" involves disruptive, zero-emission production technologies.
• The adoption of low-carbon materials is hindered by prescriptive technical specifications, such as ASTM standards, which define allowable ingredients rather than material performance. Transitioning to Performance Specifications and Standards (PSS) would allow novel binders and production methods to be evaluated based on how they perform, facilitating faster market entry.
• Regional tailoring is essential for scaling solutions. In India, limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) pilots are reducing emissions by up to 40 percent. In Africa, where 80 percent of the 2050 building stock is not yet built and limestone is scarce in some areas, there is significant potential for alternative feedstocks and leapfrogging to low-carbon production.
• Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is identified as a necessary component for reaching net-zero, with the potential to capture about 39 percent of cement sector emissions by 2050, although it faces high capital costs and logistical hurdles regarding transport and storage.

APA

RMI (2025). Foundations of Change: The Next Frontier of Cement and Concrete Innovation. https://rmi.org/resources/foundations-of-change-the-next-frontier-of-cement-and-concrete-innovation/

Chicago

RMI. Foundations of Change: The Next Frontier of Cement and Concrete Innovation. 2025. https://rmi.org/resources/foundations-of-change-the-next-frontier-of-cement-and-concrete-innovation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Foundations of Change: The Next Frontier of Cement and Concrete Innovation |date=14 November 2025 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/foundations-of-change-the-next-frontier-of-cement-and-concrete-innovation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2025foundations, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Foundations of Change: The Next Frontier of Cement and Concrete Innovation}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2025}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/foundations-of-change-the-next-frontier-of-cement-and-concrete-innovation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }