Holcim UK has demonstrated a new low-carbon mortar incorporating recycled concrete fines, marking a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of cement and advancing sustainable construction in the UK.
Holcim UK has made a notable advance in the decarbonisation of cement, successfully demonstrating a new low-carbon mortar formulation that incorporates recycled concrete fines (RCF), a by-product of demolished buildings typically treated as waste. This innovation, realised through a cross-industry trial funded by Innovate UK and led by the Materials Processing Institute (MPI), is being hailed as a significant step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of one of the world’s most widely used building materials.
The trial, part of the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) ‘Contracts for Innovation: Decarbonising Concrete’ programme, brought together a consortium including Holcim UK, MPI, Mott MacDonald, the Minerals Products Association, and Aston University. Starting in September 2024 and concluding in December 2025, the initiative sought to develop an RCF-based cement as a lower-carbon alternative to traditional Portland Cement (PC). October saw the project reach a key milestone with the successful pouring of a demonstrative batch of readymix concrete using the RCF-based cement at Holcim UK’s Whetstone plant in Leicestershire.
RCF serves to partially replace clinker in cement formulations classified under CEM II, reducing clinker content by roughly 20%. This is critical because clinker production, requiring raw materials to be heated to extremely high temperatures, is the most carbon-intensive stage of cement manufacture. By substituting recycled fines for clinker, the overall carbon emissions associated with cement production are markedly diminished.
Danielle Dawson, Technical Innovation Manager at Holcim UK, emphasised the potential environmental benefits: “Recycled concrete fines, currently regarded as demolition waste, can be processed to replace clinker, the most carbon-intensive component in cement manufacturing. Our demonstration confirmed that RCF can substitute approximately 20% of clinker in a CEM II cement formulation without compromising production feasibility.” She highlighted that the ultimate goal is to see this formulation integrated into the revised British Standards for concrete (BS 8500), with the next revision scheduled for 2027.
While RCF is already permitted under European Standard EN 197-6, it has not yet been harmonised with BS 8500 for ready-mix concrete applications, making this trial crucial in bridging that regulatory gap. Holcim UK is not only focusing on validating this product through further testing and certification but also preparing to scale production. Plans include sourcing RCF from waste management partners and incorporating it into future manufacturing at their new cement plant in Tilbury, expected to be operational by late 2026.
The trial also showcased exemplary industry collaboration. Roger Griffiths, Manager – Innovation Projects at the Mineral Products Association, praised the project’s teamwork: “This trial is a powerful example of industry collaboration driving true innovation. Holcim’s technical input and the operational support from their Whetstone plant were pivotal. This work opens new pathways toward sustainable construction in the UK and demonstrates Holcim’s readiness to scale this innovation rapidly once it gains standards acceptance.”
Holcim UK’s commitment to sustainability and the circular economy extends beyond this innovation. The company’s broader portfolio includes ECOPlanet Sulfate Resistant Cement, which features 30% less carbon than standard Portland Cement, suitable for a variety of applications like precast elements and below-ground works. Additionally, Holcim’s ECOPact low-carbon concrete has been utilised in projects such as an energy-from-waste facility near London, reducing CO₂ emissions by over 40%.
Despite these advances, Holcim faces increasing scrutiny from environmental groups, who have called on the company to accelerate emissions reductions, especially in light of its planned spinoff of the North American business. Critics urge Holcim to phase out energy-intensive kiln processes and establish net-zero cement manufacturing by 2030 in North America, underscoring persistent challenges in decarbonising this traditionally high-carbon industry sector.
Nevertheless, Holcim UK’s recent success with recycled concrete fines as a partial clinker replacement offers an encouraging innovation path for the UK construction sector. If approved into standards and successfully scaled, it could markedly reduce the carbon emissions of a sector crucial to national infrastructure development, aligning with broader industrial decarbonisation goals and circular economy principles.
- https://premierconstructionnews.com/2025/11/16/successful-recycled-concrete-fines-trial-signals-breakthrough-in-sustainable-cement-innovation/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.holcim.co.uk/news-and-resources/Recycled-Concrete-Fines-Trials – Holcim UK has successfully demonstrated a new low-carbon cement formulation made partly from recycled concrete fines (RCF), marking a significant step forward in decarbonising one of the world’s most widely used building materials. The cross-industry trial, funded by Innovate UK and led by the Materials Processing Institute (MPI), forms part of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) ‘Contracts for Innovation: Decarbonising Concrete’ programme. The project brings together industry bodies, engineers, and researchers to develop an RCF-based cement as a lower-carbon alternative to Portland Cement (PC).
- https://www.holcim.co.uk/sustainability/circular-economy – Holcim UK’s commitment to the circular economy is evident through various initiatives, including the successful demonstration of a low-carbon cement formulation made partly from recycled concrete fines (RCF). This approach aligns with their mission to make sustainable construction a reality by reducing the carbon footprint of widely used building materials.
- https://www.holcim.com/who-we-are/our-stories/ecopact-uk-energy-project – Holcim’s ECOPact low-carbon concrete was used to build a modern energy-from-waste facility outside of London, reducing CO₂ emissions by 42%. This project highlights Holcim’s dedication to sustainable construction practices and their role in advancing low-carbon technologies in the UK.
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/environment-groups-call-holcim-cut-carbon-footprint-ahead-us-spinoff-2024-10-17/ – Environmental groups are urging Holcim to reduce its carbon emissions ahead of the spinoff of its North American business. The campaign includes proposals for Holcim to phase out energy-intensive kilns and establish a net-zero cement plant in North America by 2030, reflecting the growing pressure on the cement industry to address environmental concerns.
- https://www.holcim.co.uk/news-and-resources/press-releases – Holcim UK’s press releases provide insights into their latest initiatives and achievements in sustainable construction. Notably, they have demonstrated a new low-carbon cement formulation made partly from recycled concrete fines, marking a significant step forward in decarbonising building materials.
- https://www.holcim.co.uk/products/cement/bulk/ecoplanet – Holcim UK’s ECOPlanet Sulfate Resistant Cement offers a low-carbon solution with 30% less carbon than standard Portland cement. This versatile cement is ideal for precast, piling, drainage, and below-ground concrete works, combining eco-credentials with high performance.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no substantial matches found in recent publications. The earliest known publication date of similar content is November 16, 2025. The report is based on a press release from Holcim UK, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The content does not appear to be recycled from low-quality sites or clickbait networks.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Danielle Dawson and Roger Griffiths are unique to this report, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Holcim UK, a reputable organisation in the construction industry. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high reliability score.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with Holcim UK’s known initiatives in sustainable construction. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The language and tone are consistent with corporate communications in the construction sector.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is original and based on a press release from a reputable organisation, Holcim UK. The claims made are plausible and align with known initiatives in sustainable construction. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a minor concern but does not significantly impact the overall assessment.
