by Clara Merlino | September 3, 2025
Our global infrastructure depends on critical materials such as concrete, steel, and aluminum. These materials are responsible for 23% of total global carbon emissions, with concrete alone making up 11% of total global emissions, as shared in an open letter by iMasons Climate Accord.
As companies look for near-term climate solutions that drive business value, a solution is available to make an impact now and in the future: low-carbon cement.
1. Voluntary Carbon Credits from Low-Carbon Cement
Proven approaches like reducing carbon-intensive clinker (a main ingredient in cement that is energy and emissions-intensive) by using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can deliver up to 10–40% emissions cuts today, without waiting for new technologies to mature. This strategy is front and center in the Climate Action Reserve’s U.S. Low-Carbon Cement Protocol, which ClimeCo contributed to, and which creates a tested and valid pathway for companies creating novel SCMs to generate voluntary carbon credits. Businesses can purchase these credits, lowering their emissions, while directing funds to produce additional cementitious materials that can fill the worsening supply void and help create scale.
2. Insetting as an Additional Pathway
The low-carbon cement market is poised for significant growth, and we’re already seeing strong traction across industries with multi-faceted solutions, including insetting. For example, Microsoft’s purchase of low-carbon cement represented a landmark insetting deal and showcased how sustainability solutions could work together. Through insetting, cement producers can directly reduce their Scope 1 emissions, while buyers simultaneously lower their Scope 3 emissions, demonstrating measurable reductions across the value chain. Companies expanding their physical footprint, such as data centers, can particularly benefit from these insetting opportunities.
3. Driving Measurable Business Value
Today’s solutions are important, but the long-term potential is even bigger. Cement is one of the hardest-to-abate parts of corporate supply chains. Acting now helps your company make measurable progress towards emissions reductions, support other companies scaling low-carbon solutions, and helps lead the market toward sustainable infrastructure.
Low-carbon cement offers a rare combination in the climate space: it’s available now, scalable, and capable of making a measurable dent in global emissions. By reducing clinker use, supporting innovative technologies, and leveraging market tools like low-carbon cement credits, companies have a clear path to accelerate their Scope 3 progress while driving industry-wide change. At ClimeCo, we believe collaboration across supply chains and markets will be essential to building the future of low-carbon infrastructure. Contact us to learn how we can help you drive value with low-carbon cement.
About the Author
Clara Merlino is Manager of Industrial Innovations at ClimeCo, specializing in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement and nitric acid production. She designs tailored project portfolios and industry-specific diligence strategies to meet partner needs. Previously, Clara worked as a program manager and strategic consultant for Fortune 100 companies. She brings expertise in research, strategy, and stakeholder collaboration to her role.
