Cement firm Holcim Philippines Inc. has launched “a better alternative” to ordinary Portland cement that ensures concrete strength and durability while lowering impact on the climate.
The company said it has developed Holcim Optimo, a cement product that it blended with limestone additives to reduce its carbon emissions by up to 10 percent while delivering similar concrete performance as ordinary Portland cement.
The company said Holcim Optimo is designed as “a seamless substitute” to Portland cement, the conventional material used for massive infrastructures and building projects but has a significant environmental footprint.
The company said its new product “delivers the same strength, workability and durability as OPC and remains compatible with other cement additives such as slag and fly ash. The new product is best used in large building projects and available in bulk”. “Holcim Optimo is part of our commitment to expand our line of innovative and sustainable products for building essential structures for progress without compromising the environment. It is a timely product for the Philippines as infrastructure building accelerates and green demand grows,” Holcim President and CEO Horia Adrian said.
Since 2018, Holcim has cut its carbon footprint by more than 20 percent by producing more blended cements, replacing coal with qualified wastes as alternative fuels and raw materials, and improving efficiency of operations.
