The future of construction with more sustainable cement

LC3 cement, natural colour on the right, with colour control on the left. LC3 cement has the potential to significantly reduce global CO2 emissions © 2023 LC3 Project/Stefan Wermuth - A new material developed at EPFL could change how we make cement forever - and cut 500 million tons of emissions by 2030. Under the stewardship of Karen Scrivener, head of EPFL's Laboratory of Construction Materials at the School of Engineering, a team of researchers has been wrestling with the environmental implications of concrete, a material produced at an astonishing four tonnes annually for every human on Earth. The challenge? Cement, concrete's binding component, accounts for a significant 8% of worldwide emissions. And clinker, the key component in cement, is extremely carbon intensive, making up 90% of overall cement emissions in the fabrication of concrete. The solution? LC3, short for Limestone Calcined Clay Cement. Not just an alternative, LC3 offers the potential for enhanced durability, cost-efficiency, and a significant reduction in emissions.