Kuala Lampur, April 30 -- The cement industry is seen as a prime candidate for circularity due to a powerful convergence of scale, necessity, and unique technical opportunity. As a top global emitter of CO2 and a huge consumer of raw materials (like limestone) and energy, the industry is under intense pressure to reform. Circularity offers a pathway to drastically reduce its virgin resource use and carbon footprint. The chemical process and high-temperature kilns can use waste from other sectors as both fuel and raw material. This includes: non-recyclable plastics, waste oils, tires, and biomass can replace fossil fuels like coal.

Industrial by-products like fly ash (from coal power) and slag (from steel production) can replace a portion...