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Cement Europe

Cement Europe

Cement Europe’s Net Zero Roadmap

Cement Europe’s Net Zero Roadmap charts the path to a carbon-neutral cement and concrete sector by 2050 and the policies needed to get there. It captures the industry’s progress since 2020, with more than 120 innovation projects under way and significant emission reductions already achieved.

Building on our 5C approach — clinker, cement, concrete, construction, and carbonation — the roadmap identifies the technologies, investment needs and regulatory drivers that will enable Europe to go from ambition to deployment.

By 2030, we aim for a 37% reduction in CO₂ emissions from cement production and 50% across the full value chain. By 2040, this reaches 78% and 93%, paving the way for net zero by 2050, and the potential to go carbon negative along the value chain.

Achieving this ambition requires the right policy framework. The roadmap highlights four key priorities:

A watertight Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to ensure fair competition and prevent carbon leakage.
Stronger financial support to enable decarbonisation investments through grants, de-risking instruments and funding access.
Guaranteed access to affordable, decarbonised energy, raw materials and infrastructure to support large-scale deployment.
Creation of lead markets for low-carbon, circular products.

Together, these measures will allow Europe’s cement industry to remain competitive while delivering a climate-neutral, resilient, and circular built environment.

Read 2050 Net Zero Roadmap here

Read 2050 Net Zero Roadmap here

Read 2050 Net Zero Roadmap – Executive Summary here

Read 2050 Net Zero Roadmap – Executive Summary here

Our Contribution to the Circular Economy

Circularity is at the heart of the cement and concrete value chain;  reducing waste, preserving natural resources, and supporting the EU’s shift to a circular, low-carbon economy.

Across the Net Zero Roadmap, circularity connects multiple policy areas:

Waste management

Co-processing waste and biowaste as alternative fuels, reducing landfill and fossil fuel dependency.

Secondary cementitious materials (SCMs)

Using by-products such as fly ash, slag, and calcined clays to replace clinker and cut emissions.

Construction and demolition waste

Recycling aggregates and reusing materials to close the loop in construction.

Carbonation and carbon removals

Capturing and permanently storing CO₂ through the natural carbonation of concrete structures.

Lead markets and sustainable construction

Promoting circular design principles and low-carbon materials through public procurement and building regulations.

These circular solutions are essential to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, while strengthening Europe’s resource efficiency and strategic autonomy.