According to estimates, construction is responsible for around 37% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Cement accounts for a large part of this due to its highly emission-intensive production process. Cement is estimated to produce around 5–8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, it is important to find ways to reduce these emissions.
Reducing the carbon footprint of cement-based products is also a key issue at Kiilto, as cement is used in many of our products. Finding the right means is not simple. The process requires a great deal of teamwork.
"Cement is an important component in Kiilto's dry mix products. Its properties make it an excellent binder. It helps bind structures, materials and surfaces together. When used as a binder, cement enables the mixed mass to harden and strengthen, resulting in a durable and even surface", says the Head of RDI, Joonas Kupiainen, from Kiilto's construction business.
Various methods for reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of cement
There are many ways to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of cement. The two most common methods are cement compounding and the capture, utilisation and storage of the carbon dioxide emissions produced during the manufacturing process.
"Compounding cement means adding, for example, limestone or blast furnace slag to the cement, which supports circular economy principles. The recycling of concrete and mixing it back into cement is also becoming more and more important", says Kupiainen.
In addition to constantly exploring new ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, cement manufacturers are actively seeking to capture, utilise and store carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing. These methods are called CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage), and they can be used in a wide range of sectors.
"One example of CCUS is the storage of carbon dioxide in old oil fields, deep in the earth's crust. Another example is e-fuels, which, in simplified terms, convert elements and compounds such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane. However, these require a great deal of investment and new infrastructure", says Kupiainen.
Testing innovations starts with understanding the component
Testing the latest innovations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is also a key element. This requires an understanding of cement formulation, in other words, the composition of cement and the manufacturing process, and the ability to test and adjust products accordingly. In addition to cement, other components are also important; in terms of product properties and quality, all components must be made to work together in the desired way.
"For new innovations, we start with research to see how new components affect cement-based technologies and products. If we find that a product has potential, we continue testing in the laboratory or make trial batches in production. We can then test the product further with product management, sales and the client", says Kupiainen.
Focusing on dialogue with the client
Kupiainen emphasises the reciprocal nature of communication with clients.
"Kiilto must offer high-quality products that work. At the same time, we need to meet our environmental targets and, thus, help our clients to achieve theirs. This is why listening to the clients, passing on their information, and utilising their insight is so important. This goes both ways. If we make changes and updates to our products, we need to communicate this to our clients in a clear, timely and transparent way."
Collaboration between different functions within Kiilto is essential for achieving environmental targets and enabling cement-related management, monitoring, research and testing.
"All this requires a lot of work and excellent cooperation between the different functions. I can happily say that we have a great team working at Kiilto, which makes us ready for the future", says Kupiainen.
Kiilto actively monitors industry regulations and decision-making
Although Kiilto does not manufacture cement, it plays an important role in our products. That is why it is important to keep up to date with developments in the sector.
"We need to be really well informed about what different cement manufacturers are doing, what kinds of investments they have coming up, what kinds of plans they have now, when they want to be carbon neutral, and how sure we can be that their plans will come to fruition", says Kupiainen.
Legislation on emission-intensive components is constantly evolving. Kupiainen stresses the importance of monitoring and reacting to changes.
"One piece of cement-related legislation is the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, or CBAM. This will have a significant upward impact on cement prices in the future, as legislation imposes carbon duties on products whose manufacturing process produces high levels of carbon dioxide emissions. We are closely monitoring these regulatory updates", he says.
Kiilto aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions not only in cement-based products, but also in industrial adhesives. Learn more about how replacing fossil raw materials with biobased raw materials contributes to the circular economy.