As part of its commitment to accelerating the transition to low-carbon construction, Holcim Mexico has announced an investment of nearly 200 million pesos to implement innovative infrastructure in Tecomán, Colima. Developed through Geocycle, its subsidiary specialising in sustainable waste management solutions, the new facility will address the handling of approximately 45 000 tpy of biomass from the sugar industry (equivalent to the total organic waste generated by around 120 000 people over an entire year), transforming it into a valuable resource for cement production.
This initiative tackles a long-standing challenge in Mexico’s agroindustry: the valorisation of sugarcane bagasse. With a moisture content exceeding 50%, bagasse is typically difficult to recycle, creating fire risks and emissions during processing. To overcome this, Geocycle has designed a system that uses hot air recovered from cement kilns to dry up to 220 tpd of biomass, reducing moisture to 10% and grinding it to 95% fineness for subsequent co-processing.
"Innovation truly delivers value when it solves environmental challenges and benefits the entire value chain. With this project, we are transforming agroindustrial waste into a resource for producing cement with a lower carbon footprint, accelerating the circular economy, and demonstrating that decarbonisation is also an opportunity to drive more sustainable development," said Christian Dedeu, CEO of Holcim Mexico.
Through this operation, Holcim Mexico will avoid approximately 55 000 tpy of CO2e emissions, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 11 500 households. It will also reduce the use of non-renewable natural resources and mitigate the environmental risks associated with this waste, ensuring a clean, industrial-scale input.
The commissioning of this project reinforces Holcim Mexico’s vision of leading the decarbonisation of the construction industry through innovation and cross-sector collaboration, positioning Geocycle as its strategic arm for advancing the circular economy in the country.
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