Green Cement Technology Tracker expanded to monitor calcined clay kilns

Concrete and cement are the world’s most used building materials. They are vital to the built environment for homes, offices, and infrastructure, but currently account for around 7% of global CO₂ emissions.

With the launch of the GCCA’s Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap, the sector became the first heavy industry to set out a clear commitment and plan on how to decarbonise.

Tracking progress towards net zero is an essential part of the Roadmap.

The Green Cement Technology Tracker, was launched last year by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT). The tracker monitors the global use of technologies that will help the industry decarbonise and will provide transparency and useful data to the industry, policymakers, academics and the public.

Now, the tracker has been expanded to include the use of clay calcination kilns. Calcined clay, also known as metakaolin, can be used in the making of cement and can help to make significant CO₂ reductions, due to the lower amount of energy needed the manufacturing process.

Per Andersson, head of the Secretariat – LeadIT said: “Transparency is key. To empower the industry and policymakers committed to emission reductions, our goal is to provide comprehensive tracking of investments in low-carbon cement production. This new addition to our trackers is extending the scope and quality.” 

The GCCA’s Cement, Innovation and ESG director, Claude Loréa, said: “Driving down emissions requires investment in new technologies and production methods, and incorporating calcined clay can contribute significantly making it a valuable strategy for sustainable construction.”

The GCCA’s Roadmap estimates that by using calcined clays in the production of cement, instead of limestone, it is possible to reduce emissions in the production process by 11%.

According to, Karen Scrivener, professor at Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and an expert on the use of calcined clays: “Ultimately, we’re constrained by the materials we have on earth. There’s no overnight replacement for cement. However, the development of calcined clays, which are widely available, offers the world an exciting opportunity to reduce CO₂ emissions in cement production.”

Expansion of the tracker’s scope now means it is monitoring the development of two of the newest technologies which are helping to decarbonise cement plants – CCUS and calcined clays.