UK: DB Group and Wolfenden Concrete have announced the upcoming launch of Supa Green, a range of cement-free agricultural concrete products produced using DB Group’s Cemfree technology. The partnership says that this assures a 62% maximum CO₂ reduction compared to concrete products made with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). It further says that the products have increased acid resistance. Cemfree is a low carbon concrete made using ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) and pulverised fly ash.

DB Group chief executive officer Wayne Zakers said, “DB Group’s mission is to improve the durability and sustainability of construction, working most intimately with our innovative partners. Working with Wolfenden will enable us to embed that innovation within the agricultural sector and to extend the benefits of our Cemfree technology to dairy farmers across the UK. The testing of Supa Green products has proven extremely successful, and so we look forward to the launch of the range, and to helping Wolfenden’s customers meet and exceed environmental targets.”

World: Global steel production was 1.86Bnt in 2020, down by 1% year-on-year from 1.88Bn in 2019. The decrease is the first since 2015. The sharpest declines were recorded in the US (17%), Japan (16%), the EU (12%) and India (11%). Chinese steel production rose for a sixth consecutive year to 1.05Bnt, up by 5% from 1.00Bnt. The rest of the world produced 811Mt, down by 8% from 879Mt. China’s share of world steel production rose to 57% from 53%.

Russia: The Ministry of Energy has launched its roadmap for the use of slag and ash by the cement industry and in road building. Soyuztsement has reported that the roadmap lists pilot projects for the products’ use. Currently, 5 – 7% of ash and slag waste (ASW) is used. Under its Comprehensive Plan to Increase the Utilisation of Solid Fuel Combustion Products bill, published in mid-2020, the ministry plans to increase the ASW utilisation rate across Russia to 50% by 2035. This amount could cut 6.2Mt/yr of the cement industry’s direct CO2 emissions, corresponding to under 1% of its emissions in 2020. Additionally, it would lead to the production of lighter and reduce the thermal conductivity of concrete.

The bill is due for submission before the Russian parliament in April 2021, followed by a second bill to provide for incentives to slag and ash producers in September 2021.

France: Housing developer Ouest Réalisations has awarded a supply contract to Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, the producer will provide the housing developer with its clinker-free low-carbon cement made from blast furnace slag using its H-UKR technology. The order covers a total volume of 75,000m3 of concrete manufactured by concrete plants distributing Hoffmann Green cement, equivalent to 20,000 - 30,000t of cement, for use in Ouest Réalisations’ developments until the end of 2025. These include the 700-unit Batignolles 2025 project in Nantes and the 103-unit La Croix Blanche project in Les Sables d’Olonne.

Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "This five-year order commitment once again strengthens the value of our carbon-free cement solution. We are very proud to conclude our first partnership with a housing developer, and all the more so with Ouest Réalisations, a Vendée company with whom we share many values and in particular a common vision: that of decarbonising the new housing construction sector. We are looking forward to following Ouest Réalisations’ real-estate programs using our technology."