Sustainability Must Stand On Its Own Two Feet, Solidia Technologies CEO Tells Cement Leaders at CSI Annual Forum

“Sustainability must stand on its own two feet,” declared Solidia Technologies® CEO Tom Schuler during a panel presentation at the annual forum of the WBCSD Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI). CSI invited Schuler to speak on new sustainable technologies and the challenges of introducing innovation and to present Solidia’s technology that reduces the carbon footprint of cement and concrete products up to 70 percent.

Addressing the resistance to adopting innovation in a conservative industry, Schuler explained, “Sustainability is about competitiveness. Companies that don’t adopt sustainable technologies will struggle to compete, but those technologies must help generate profits—without relying on grants or carbon credits.”

Cement, the critical binding element in concrete, is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gas, responsible for approximately five to seven percent of global emissions. “A sustainable cement that has a smaller footprint but that doesn’t add value for concrete customers won’t get readily adopted,” explained Schuler. “Concrete manufacturers do not feel they have a CO₂ problem, so sustainable technologies must offer higher value.”

One of the largest sustainability programs ever undertaken by a single sector, CSI comprises 24 cement producers with operations in more than 100 countries representing 30 percent of the world’s cement production. Held this week in Vancouver and co-hosted by HeidelbergCement, Lafarge, and the Cement Association of Canada, the 7th annual forum convened industry leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs and researchers to explore trends in building materials and facilitate adoption of sustainability elements in construction.

Solidia’s patented technologies cure concrete with carbon dioxide instead of water and use a sustainable cement as binder, reducing the carbon footprint of concrete, lowering production costs, and enhancing performance. Solidia has three products ready for commercial adoption and five under development. Solidia Concrete™ offers broader application choices in durability, strength, material reduction, and casting over products made with Ordinary Portland Cement, while using the same raw materials and equipment but less water, energy and time.

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