CRH secures US$2.1bn SCM supply with Eco Material deal

CRH has completed the US$2.1 billion (£1.7bn) acquisition of Eco Material Technologies, North America’s leading supplier of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).

The deal positions CRH, parent company of Tarmac, at the forefront of efforts to decarbonise cement and concrete. SCMs such as fly ash and natural pozzolans are widely used to replace Portland clinker in cement mixes, cutting embodied carbon and supporting net zero targets.

CRH first announced the agreement on 29 July and confirmed completion on 22 September. The company said the move is consistent with its strategy of value-creating capital allocation and will unlock significant growth opportunities as demand rises for sustainable construction materials.

For the UK sector, the acquisition is significant. Supplies of traditional SCMs such as fly ash are becoming scarcer due to the closure of coal-fired power stations. Securing access to large-scale SCM production gives CRH and its UK arm, Tarmac, greater capacity to deliver lower-carbon concrete solutions to contractors and clients.

Eco Material is also developing engineered SCM blends that could be adapted for UK standards, further expanding options for decarbonising cement and concrete.

What are SCMs and why they matter?

• Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) include fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), natural pozzolans and engineered blends.
• They partially replace Portland cement in mixes, reducing clinker content and cutting embodied CO₂.
• SCMs can also improve durability, strength development and long-term performance of concrete.
• With UK fly ash supplies dwindling, secure SCM access is vital to decarbonisation strategies and compliance with PAS 2080 and net zero targets.