The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has unveiled a new membership initiative designed to accelerate the industry’s decarbonization journey by fostering deeper collaboration across the building and construction value chain. The move reflects growing recognition that reducing emissions from cement and concrete, the world’s second-most used material after water, requires systemic coordination far beyond producers alone.

Building a Net Zero Value Chain

The new membership category, titled Net Zero Value Chain Partners (NZVCP), opens the association’s doors to organizations that supply essential technologies, infrastructure, and services to the cement and concrete industry. The GCCA emphasized that its existing network of 50 member producers, representing many of the world’s largest cement and concrete manufacturers, cannot reach net zero in isolation. Partnerships across the wider ecosystem are needed to integrate innovation, accelerate decarbonization, and align with global sustainability targets. Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the GCCA, described concrete as “the essential material” underpinning modern society. From buildings and housing to infrastructure, its ubiquity makes it indispensable. Guillot argued that deeper engagement with equipment suppliers, service providers, and solution developers is the logical next step to ensure progress toward decarbonization at scale.

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Early Members and Areas of Collaboration

Eligible participants in the NZVCP program include companies providing equipment, admixtures, carbon capture infrastructure, and other decarbonization technologies. Members will engage directly in GCCA programs, working groups, and industry events, contributing technical expertise and solutions that can be applied globally. The first cohort of companies to join the initiative includes CDE, KHD, Master Builders Solutions, Saint-Gobain, Schneider Electric, and Sinoma International. Their inclusion signals both momentum and the breadth of innovation needed, from advanced materials to energy efficiency systems and large-scale industrial infrastructure.

Driving Industry-Wide Transformation

The cement and concrete sector is responsible for approximately seven percent of global carbon emissions, making it a focal point for industrial decarbonization efforts. While many producers have pledged to scale up low-carbon technologies such as clinker substitution, alternative fuels, and carbon capture, these pathways rely heavily on collaboration with external partners. The GCCA’s new program aims to institutionalize that collaboration, ensuring that the expertise of technology providers, infrastructure companies, and solution developers is embedded into industry roadmaps. By formalizing these partnerships, the association hopes to speed up deployment, reduce costs, and ensure best practices are shared across borders.

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Looking Ahead

The launch of the Net Zero Value Chain Partners program comes at a critical moment for the cement and concrete industry. Global demand for building materials remains strong, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions, and the challenge is to meet that demand while dramatically cutting emissions. The GCCA’s initiative underscores the view that no single company or sector can solve this problem alone. By expanding its membership base, the association is signaling a more inclusive, cross-sector approach to climate action that could serve as a model for other hard-to-abate industries.

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