Molins examines how integrated circular economy projects and alternative fuels are transforming decarbonisation efforts.
Cement is a fundamental component of modern life, acting as the backbone of infrastructure, housing, and urban development worldwide. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a significant transition. Producing clinker – the key component of cement – requires high energy inputs, which makes the sector particularly exposed to the global demand for lower-carbon solutions. The challenge lies in reducing emissions while keeping competitiveness, security of supply, and the affordability of construction materials.
For Molins, this transition has become a catalyst for innovation. Over the last decade, Molins has built a robust portfolio of initiatives focused on using alternative fuels (AFs) and repurposing raw materials to reduce its carbon footprint, cut reliance on fossil fuels, and advance circular economy practices. From industrial and commercial waste and end-of-life tyres (ELTs) to construction and demolition waste, Molins has demonstrated how materials once considered waste can become valuable resources for both energy and substitution of natural raw materials.
This article explores the role of AFs in Molins’ decarbonisation strategy, focusing on three flagship initiatives: the alternative raw materials plant in Barcelona, the Pronatur refuse derived fuel (RDF) project near its Sant Vicenç dels Horts cement plant, and the end-of-life tyre recycling facility in Manresa.
The alternative raw materials plant: giving new life to waste
One of the most emblematic initiatives in Molins’ circular economy strategy is the alternative raw materials plant, located in Pallejà, near Barcelona. Operational since late 2022, this facility illustrates how circular practices can be fully integrated into an industry as traditional as cement production.
Since its launch, it has already processed more than 193 000 t of waste from construction, demolition, and other industrial sources. In 2024 alone, the plant handled over 93 500 t of material, representing a 25% increase compared to 2023.
These volumes are more than statistics; they deliver a meaningful environmental benefit. By turning construction and demolition waste into CE-marked recycled aggregates and alternative raw materials suitable for use in cement manufacturing, the alternative raw materials plant avoided the emission of over 3600 t of CO2 in 2024. Its proximity to Molins’ Sant Vicenç dels Horts cement plant further reduces transport-related emissions, reinforcing the environmental efficiency of the model.
The facility is not an isolated case but part of a broader network. Molins operates eight waste valorisation plants across Spain, managing a wide variety of materials such as steel slags, demolition residues, and end-of-life tyres. In total, these facilities valorised more than 345 000 t of waste in 2024 – a 52% increase year-on-year. Beyond diverting material from landfills, this network also prevents the extraction and long-distance transport of raw materials, significantly reducing associated CO2 emissions.
The alternative raw materials plant and its related facilities highlight Molins’ commitment to building a truly circular industrial model, one that prioritises resource efficiency and material reuse. By reintegrating recovered materials into its own production processes, Molins not only lowers its environmental footprint but also demonstrates how waste can be reimagined as a valuable input for sustainable construction.
This approach is tightly linked with Molins’ broader decarbonisation goals. Alongside material recovery, Molins is accelerating the substitution of fossil fuels with alternatives, many sourced from non-recoverable industrial waste. At the same time, it is incorporating renewable energy into its operations, both through supply agreements and on-site self-consumption facilities. Together, these actions are included within Molins’ Roadmap 2030, which sets a clear objective: a 20% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 2030.
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