GCP Applied Technologies: sustainability, savings, and strength go hand in hand

Investors driving climate action

Producers are under considerable pressure to produce cement in a more sustainable way. Members of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change and Climate Action 100+, a coalition of money managers with more than US$33 trillion under management, is urging European construction-material companies - including cement makers - to commit to reducing net CO₂ emissions to zero by 2050. Investment group member and Chief Executive Officer of Ethos Foundation, Vincent Kaufmann, noted, "an increasing number of investors seek to exclude highly carbon-intensive sectors from their portfolios to meet their decarbonisation plans."

In an annual letter to Chief Executive Officers, asset management powerhouse, Blackrock Inc., announced that climate change has become a defining factor in the companies’ long-term prospects, noting “over time, companies and countries that do not respond to stakeholders and address sustainability risks will encounter growing skepticism from the markets, and in turn, a higher cost of capital.”

The world's largest asset manager with approximately US$8.6 trillion in assets, Blackrock, introduced numerous initiatives to place sustainability at the centre of its investment approach, including making sustainability integral to portfolio construction and risk management; exiting investments that present a high sustainability-related risk, such as thermal coal producers; launching new investment products that screen fossil fuels; and strengthening its commitment to sustainability and transparency in its investment stewardship activities.

Tying sustainability and strength

Despite these mounting pressures, it is not easy for the cement industry to make immediate adjustments. Being responsible for building materials that can last generations, producers are understandably wary of making changes unless there are assurances that they will preserve the integrity of their product. In other words, sustainability products must protect the strength and other desirable performance properties of the cement. There are a number of solutions – both chemical and technical – that enable producers to do just that. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, however. Identifying the right choice for each plant involves a holistic approach that may encompass:

• Conducting lab tests to identify custom chemistries for specific cement and concrete systems.
• Enhancing the efficiency of the ball mill or vertical mill.
• Ensuring best-in-class execution during field trials and regular operations.

One example is a cement plant customer in eastern Europe, who recently sought a grinding additive to facilitate a further 4% clinker replacement for their cement above the 3% reduction they were achieving with a traditional GCP Applied Technologies quality improver. GCP designed the new product, tested it on site, and produced cement of the same fineness. The resulting strength was increased in the order of 10% at all ages, in addition to achieving an increase in cement mill output of more than 4%. This enabled the plant to:

• Reduce clinker by the desired 4% by increasing the limestone content.
• Reduce operational costs by over 2%.
• Lower CO₂ emissions by a further 6% on top of previous additive.

Capitalising on new market opportunities

Accounting for 7% of global man-made CO₂ emissions, cement is under the microscope when it comes to improving sustainability. Although there are goals such as the International Energy Agency’s Sustainable Development Scenario to drive incremental change, it is likely that market opportunities are what will spur the industry forward. The green cement market is estimated to grow to US$43.59 billion by 2027 providing a wealth of opportunities for producers who capitalise on these shifts.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to help reduce embodied carbon in cement today through chemical cement additives. For instance, cement additive technologies first developed and introduced by GCP are currently enabling the cement industry to reduce approximately 65 million tpy of CO₂. That represents roughly 3% of global cement CO₂ emissions.¹

To further these capabilities for cement plants, GCP developed a line of OPTEVA® CO2ST® reducers specifically to allow for a significant reduction in clinker factor and an increase in supplementary cementitious materials, while mitigating detrimental effects on finished cement performance. The line involves the use of new chemicals, a new combination of components, and a proprietary design process.

Accelerating the selection of sustainable additives

Using multiple chemicals together can often offer sustainability advantages that represent more than the sum of their parts. However, with so many cement chemistries and variables to choose from, not to mention individual constraints in each cement, it can be difficult for cement plants to readily predict the performance of multiple chemistries working together.

Accurately predicting the anticipated strength and sustainability benefits involves a careful assessment of the existing business and technical needs and constraints. Having these discussions with your additive supplier can help to reliably increase the use of supplementary cementitious materials to reduce the carbon footprint and identify formulations that offer an improved net value.

Conclusion

Reducing CO₂ is a critical endeavor for cement plants. Choosing the right solutions involves a keen understanding of individual market conditions, the availability or lack thereof of locally-sourced raw materials, cement performance goals and metrics, and predictors of chemical additives. Working in partnership with cement plants to understand their specific objectives and operational processes can help drive decisions that result in the trifecta of sustainability, strength, and savings.

¹One-year carbon emission reduction, on the basis of 2019 volumes.

Written by: Riccardo Stoppa, Global Marketing Manager of the Cement Additives division at GCP Applied Technologies. Riccardo holds a master degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Milan and an MBA from the SDA Bocconi School of Management. Riccardo has contributed to the development and launch of new technologies and products such as the CO₂ST® reducer, Tavero® VM and innovative services such as the GCP DASH® real-time product selection application. GCP chemical additives enable cement and concrete customers to improve the strength and quality of their products. The company takes a holistic approach to tackling CO₂ reduction, bringing together chemical research, experienced technical support, lab and field testing, advanced chemistry, and technology to ensure that new chemistries they develop bring strength, savings, and sustainability to customers.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/27042021/gcp-applied-technologies-sustainability-savings-and-strength-go-hand-in-hand/