From waste to worksite: delivering rapid-hardening low-carbon cement made in the UK

Cement contributes around 8% of global CO₂ emissions, creating urgent demand for low-carbon alternatives. The UKRI-funded GCSCM project is developing belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement as a UK-manufactured replacement for Portland cement. BCSA delivers 25–35% lower emissions alongside rapid strength gain, shrinkage compensation and high chemical resistance. A major advance is the production of BCSA clinker entirely from UK waste-derived materials, removing reliance on imported bauxite. Successful 2024 pilot rotary-kiln trials demonstrated compatibility with conventional equipment, supporting a scalable, secure route to low-carbon cement manufacture. The presentation will summarise the materials strategy, pilot-kiln findings, performance metrics and next steps toward industrial adoption.