Although the cement and concrete industry at a global level has committed that by 2050 the production of these supplies for construction means zero net emissions of carbon dioxide (C02), apparently this commitment is not enough if they do not incorporate technology tools to accomplish that purpose, according to a recent analysis by Credit Suisse.

In the document "Solving concrete emissions", it is explained that currently the production of cement and concrete represents 7% of CO2 emissions globally, that is, the second largest emitter within materials after iron and steel. .

Thus, concrete is the basis of most construction and also of large-scale industry, since it is the second most consumed material by mass after water.

Although different actors in the production of cement and concrete have announced their commitments to achieve zero net carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, more has to be done to achieve the desired effectiveness.

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According to the document, some technologies that have begun to be used by the industry are alternative cementitious materials and fuels, more efficient furnaces, as well as the

use of clean or renewable energy. But in addition to this, the industry can be more aggressive with the implementation of other technologies that have not necessarily been tested yet by the cement companies.

According to the report, these unproven technologies may be efficient in capturing, utilizing and storing carbon.

Within the report, the zero emission targets for the cement and ready-mix industry by 2050 are considered ambitious, with challenges in meeting them given the lack of viable substitute materials and the vital importance of these inputs.

Under this scenario, the report highlights the importance of considering the costs of implementing technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the production of cement or concrete.

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"Costs per ton of carbon capture could be too high relative to profitability," the report says.

In this context, the report predicts that the investment to attack this problem could be insufficient for the initiatives proposed by the industry, so there must be "stronger" incentives to seek cleaner cement.

Among these incentives we would have the generation of green construction indexes, the regulation that favors the use of cement products with low clinker content and that investors monitor the high-impact emissions of construction projects and companies.

This could unlock premium prices for low-emission alternatives, which in turn would incentivize and provide much-needed capital for cement companies to accelerate decarbonization.

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