Clay is one of the most abundant materials on earth. International construction and building materials company Holcim is tapping into this abundant resource, using “calcined clay” to create strong cement that’s better for people and the planet, according to the company’s website.
As the website shows, the chemical reactions involved in making traditional cement release carbon pollution into the atmosphere that causes the planet to heat up. However, the company claims there is a way to tweak the ingredients and cut harmful pollution in half without sacrificing the strength of the building materials.
Holchim used calcined clay (natural clay that has been heated to high temperatures) to partially replace an ingredient in cement called “clinker.” Clinker is produced by heating limestone, a process that is responsible for a large portion of cement manufacturing’s carbon pollution.
The product, which contains calcined clay, is a type of cement that mixes and hardens like regular cement and is durable and resilient once poured, Holcim said. However, its cement production process does not contribute to rising global temperatures as much as standard methods.
This, in turn, means it does not create conditions that exacerbate extreme weather events, such as wildfires, floods, and droughts, thereby endangering people’s lives.
Holcim’s cement production is on track. According to the company, Europe’s first new production line dedicated to the production of calcined clay cement will be expanded in 2023. Holcim aims to produce 500,000 tonnes of calcined clay per year at its plant in Saint-Pierre-LaCour, France, by 2030.
Similar initiatives are being developed at the company’s Czech Republic facility. Overall, Holcim manufactures calcined clay products at nine plants in Europe, Latin America and North Africa. The largest plant, located in Guayaquil, Ecuador, is expected to produce 2 million tons of the material annually, Holcim reports.
Holcim’s cement is now used on project sites around the world. It has become the literal basis for the Olympic Stadium in Marseille, France, an office tower in Milan, Italy, and an apartment building in Cancun, Mexico.
New building developments can encroach on important natural habitats and damage local ecosystems. However, changes that helped clean up the construction industry reduced its overall impact.
Holcim is proving that producing cement with less carbon pollution is also a smart business move as its commitment to sustainable building materials is driving profit growth. Rémi Barbarulo, head of cement research and development at Holcim, said the company’s calcined clay-based cement sales surged in the first half of 2025.
