Heidelberg Materials has taken a significant step towards circularity and decarbonisation by launching the first industrial-scale facility for enforced carbonation at its cement plant in Górażdże, Poland. This pioneering move builds on the company’s patented ReConcrete process, which utilizes recycled concrete paste (RCP) to reduce carbon emissions in cement and concrete production.
The facility processes RCP recovered from Heidelberg’s selective recycling plant in Katowice. Through a process called enforced carbonation, the RCP is exposed to kiln exhaust gases, allowing it to chemically bind with CO₂. This not only traps CO₂ permanently within the material but also enables the carbonated RCP to replace clinker—a highly carbon-intensive material—in composite cements.
“We’re combining circularity, resource efficiency, and decarbonisation,” said Dr Katharina Beumelburg, Chief Sustainability and New Technologies Officer.
“The success of ReConcrete in Poland sets a blueprint for similar global initiatives,” added Jon Morrish, Managing Board Member for Europe.
The ReConcrete process can reduce carbon emissions by up to 1,000 kg per tonne of RCP, including 150 kg of CO₂ permanently captured during carbonation and 850 kg of emissions avoided through clinker substitution.
The facility is part of the EU-supported “Carbon4Minerals” R&D project, bringing together leading experts and industrial partners across Europe. Operational trials are underway to evaluate the technology under real-world conditions.
This innovation marks a crucial step in Heidelberg Materials’ commitment to closing the CO₂ loop in cement production and driving the global shift towards sustainable building solutions.
