About the project

Building a More Sustainable Future with Low-Carbon Cement

Concrete is the foundation of modern society. It is used in buildings, bridges, roads, tunnels, ports, and other critical infrastructure. However, the production of cement, the key binding ingredient in concrete, is responsible for approximately 9% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

As the world moves towards net-zero targets and more sustainable development, the construction sector faces an urgent challenge: how can we reduce the environmental impact of cement while maintaining the performance and durability required for modern infrastructure?

EARTHCEM addresses this challenge through the development and evaluation of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), an innovative low-carbon cement technology that has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of cement production.

---

What is LC3?

Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) is a new generation of cement that replaces a substantial portion of traditional clinker with calcined clay and limestone.

Unlike conventional Portland cement, LC3 requires less clinker, resulting in lower carbon emissions and reduced energy consumption during production. At the same time, LC3 can deliver comparable engineering performance and durability when properly designed.

The use of calcined clay also offers opportunities to utilise locally available resources, supporting more sustainable and resilient supply chains for the construction industry.

---

Why EARTHCEM?

The United Kingdom possesses extensive clay resources, yet many of these materials remain underexplored for low-carbon cement applications.

The performance of LC3 systems is strongly influenced by the mineralogical characteristics of the clay used. Understanding how different clay types affect hydration, microstructure, durability, and long-term performance is essential for wider industrial adoption.

EARTHCEM investigates how UK clay resources can be transformed into high-performance, low-carbon cementitious materials capable of supporting durable and sustainable infrastructure.

---

Expected Impact

EARTHCEM aims to contribute to the transition towards more sustainable construction by:

• Supporting the development of low-carbon cement technologies.
• Reducing reliance on clinker-intensive cement production.
• Promoting the use of locally available raw materials.
• Improving understanding of durability and long-term performance.
• Providing scientific evidence to support future industrial implementation of LC3 systems.
• Contributing to carbon reduction targets within the construction sector.