SUSTAINABILITY
CEMEX FORGES AHEAD WITH SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES
Cemex has achieved an alternative fuel milestone and brought in new recycling initiatve at its plants at two of its operations in Warwickshire.
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uilding materials producer Cemex has celebrated the use of 1 million tonnes of alternative fuel at its Rugby Cement Plant, thanks to its partnership with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery and its industry- leading Malpass farm facility.
The partnership has helped to reduce coal consumption by over 750,000 tonnes at the Rugby plant, in addition to downstream carbon emissions savings from supply chain activities that would previously have been associated with shipping and transporting coal to site. SUEZ processes non-recyclable waste at its purpose-built facility in Rugby to produce the sustainable replacement for coal and oil. The facility creates the high-energy fuel from carefully sifted and shredded waste primarily from local authority waste collections, as well as from businesses across the Midlands, which is then used to heat the kiln at the neighbouring Cemex facility for cement production. During a visit to mark the milestone, environment minister Mary Creagh MP was shown how the facility uses household, commercial and industrial waste to produce the alternative fuel, called Climafuel.
As well as using Climafuel to heat the process at Rugby, the ash that is produced from this is then also incorporated into the clinker produced in the kiln, which is the primary ingredient for the cement making process. Since the facility opened in 2015, 1 million tonnes of Climafuel has been provided to Cemex, allowing the building materials provider to supply their customers with more sustainable products including cement, readymix concrete
work together to deliver circularity solutions that cut carbon emissions and divert waste from landfills.
Above (L-R): Mary Creagh MP for Coventry East and Minister of Nature for DEFRA, John Slinger MP for Rugby, and Dr Adam Reid Chief External Affairs and Sustainability Officer for SUEZ.
and specialised urbanisation solutions such as mortars, admixtures and pre-cast concrete solutions.
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: “We know far too many of our precious resources are going to waste and that we need bold, innovative approaches to maximise their value.”
“This government is committed to cutting waste and moving to a circular economy so that we keep resources in use for longer, accelerate the path to net zero, and increase investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs.
Above: SUEZ Recycling facility at Malpass Farm in Rugby where Climafuel® is produced in order to heat the kiln at Cemex’s Rugby Cement Plant.
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“Where waste cannot be avoided, it is essential to explore what other benefits it can provide – such as in energy generation. That’s why I was delighted to visit SUEZ’s Malpass Farm facility today as they celebrated their significant milestone, providing a shining example of partnership working in action.” Phil Baynes-Clarke, director of cement operations for Cemex UK, said: “Our global Future in Action programme underscores our commitment to achieving carbon net zero by 2050. Our partnership with SUEZ has been instrumental in significantly reducing carbon emissions at our Rugby Cement Plant. “Since 2013, we have collaborated closely with SUEZ to produce Climafuel, a waste- derived, non-fossil-based alternative fuel used to heat the kiln in the cement-making process. This partnership is a great example of how the cement and waste management industries can
“Over the past decade, Climafuel usage has steadily increased at our Rugby Cement Plant. Our ultimate goal is to operate the kiln with 100% alternative fuels, and we are getting close to this target. Through ongoing innovation, we are determined to continue decarbonising our operations and advancing towards our goal of carbon neutrality.” The company has also has introduced Regenera, a waste management and recycling partnership programme, at its Coleshill Quarry in Warwickshire.
Production at the new Coleshill Regenera recycling facility started in September and has witnessed rapid early development due to a longstanding partnership with HD Ricketts, a major existing Cemex customer, specialising in recycled aggregates.
Lex Russell, managing director, Cemex UK, says: “Coleshill is a prime UK site for Cemex Regenera. With over 20 years’ experience in the waste management sector, Cemex launched the Regenera business globally in 2023 as a natural evolution for the organisation. We have been effectively managing and integrating waste and industrial byproducts into our production processes for many years. Regenera is now the umbrella under which Cemex will provide all of its circularity solutions which extend the life cycle of products and materials by re-purposing them into value-added products. A wide range of tailored services including reception, management, recycling, and the coprocessing of waste have also been incorporated into the Regenera offering.”
“Together, with HD Ricketts, our collective industrial waste management solutions not only aim to protect the environment and conserve natural resources, but also benefit communities by creating jobs in the local economy and help promote more sustainable development. Working in partnership with a long-standing major Cemex customer, means we have been able to leverage a wealth of collective experience in recycling, to become operational in a very short space of time, with minimal investment.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2025
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