Low Carbon Cement Arrived in the UK
A shipment of Norway's near-zero carbon cement has landed in Britain. Around 3,500 tonnes of Heidelberg Materials' EvoZero cement, the world's first carbon-captured near-zero cement, are sitting in silos at the Port of Goole, ready for use in UK projects. This low-carbon cement uses carbon capture technology at the Brevik plant to slash emissions.
In fact, EvoZero achieves a near-zero CO₂ footprint by capturing around half of the kiln's emissions.
Importantly, the UK needs this. The Mineral Products Association shows British cement production has shrunk dramatically: in 2024 the UK made just 7.3 million tonnes of cement, about half the 1990 level, so new low-carbon imports help fill the gap.
Andy Murphy, Commercial Director of Heidelberg Materials UK, said, “EvoZero is the world’s first carbon captured near-zero cement and sets new standards for sustainable building materials. The product achieves its near-zero footprint through the application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims.”
Heidelberg Materials has bundled its eco-innovations under simple brands. Alongside EvoZero, the carbon-captured cement, the company introduced EvoBuild in the UK last year: a portfolio of low-carbon and circular products. Under EvoBuild you'll find low-carbon cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and even asphalt, all certified to cut CO₂. Every EvoBuild product delivers at least 30% lower carbon compared with a standard alternative or 30% recycled content. EvoZero and EvoBuild together are pushing the industry toward net-zero building materials.
Why This Matters for Your Projects
You can now offer a truly sustainable cement option without changing your building process. Using low-carbon cement means you lower the embodied carbon of concrete structures (walls, foundations, slabs) from the outset. This can boost your credentials for eco-minded clients and may satisfy or exceed upcoming building regulations on materials.
There are practical steps to take.
First, talk to suppliers about using EvoZero or other low-carbon cement in your mixes. It's still early days, so volumes are limited.
Reuters reports that EvoZero is sold out through 2025, but you can plan ahead. Factor any price premium into your bids.
Early industry analysis indicates EvoZero commands a premium price. Include low-carbon cement in your carbon reporting; it can significantly drop your project's carbon footprint.
Make sure your structural calculations allow for the new cement mix; in general it meets standard strength specifications. Finally, leverage digital tools like Xpedeon ERP to track these materials and carbon budgets across your projects.
Action steps:
- Engage suppliers: Secure EvoZero or low-carbon cement early and compare costs against conventional cement.
- Plan for compliance: Check if local planning policies or clients reward the use of low-carbon materials. Update project specs accordingly.
- Update trackers: Use construction ERP software to log material choices and carbon impacts.
How the Construction Industry is Responding
Across the UK, the shift toward low-carbon building materials is gaining momentum. Major cement producers, including Heidelberg Materials, Breedon and Cemex, are now competing on embodied-carbon performance rather than just strength class or price. Concrete suppliers are launching low-carbon product lines and ready-mix plants are trialling blends with reduced clinker and higher supplementary materials.
Developers and housebuilders are following suit. Companies such as Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey are publishing embodied-carbon benchmarks for new homes, while local authorities increasingly include whole-life carbon reporting in planning submissions. Industry bodies like the UK Green Building Council and Mineral Products Association are pushing for consistent carbon-labelling and lifecycle assessment standards so that low-carbon cement options can be specified with confidence.
Digitalisation is also accelerating this change. Many contractors are beginning to connect carbon data to their commercial systems, using ERP platforms such as Xpedeon ERP to track material choices and compliance metrics alongside cost and schedule data. This unified approach makes it easier to prove sustainability progress, not just promise it.
Know more about Net-Zero Goals and ESG Compliance here - ESG Reporting for Retrofit and Net Zero Projects
The UK Construction Industry’s Sustainability Challenge
The UK construction sector faces one of its biggest transformation pressures in decades. The industry is responsible for around 25% of national carbon emissions, much of it embedded in materials like cement and concrete.
With government targets aiming for net-zero construction by 2050 and developers already expected to report on whole-life carbon, housebuilders are under mounting pressure to adopt low-carbon materials without compromising cost, quality, or delivery timelines. Against this backdrop, innovations such as carbon-captured cement offer a realistic path forward, helping the industry decarbonise its supply chain while maintaining buildability and performance standards.
Read more on sustainability here - Why Construction ERP is the Unsung Hero of Sustainable Projects
Looking Ahead: The Next Step in Sustainable Construction
The arrival of Norway's EvoZero shipment is a signal of what's to come. Carbon-captured cement is no longer experimental; it is entering the mainstream supply chain. Heidelberg's Brevik plant has proven that large-scale carbon capture works in cement production and similar retrofits are planned for other European and UK facilities over the next few years.
By 2026–27, the UK is expected to see wider availability of carbon-captured and low-carbon cements, complemented by circular aggregates and low-emission asphalt. As demand grows, prices should gradually stabilise, allowing these products to compete directly with traditional materials.
For housebuilders, this transition presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Those who act early by specifying low-carbon products, embedding carbon metrics in project planning and partnering with digitally enabled suppliers will be better positioned for the tightening regulatory environment ahead.
Sustainable construction is no longer an aspiration; it is fast becoming the industry baseline. EvoZero's UK arrival marks a milestone, but it also sets the tone for what every future build will need to achieve: reduced embodied carbon, proven accountability and smarter material management.
New low carbon can help you reduce the carbon footprint of your buildings. It also positions you well for future policies that favour sustainable construction. To manage this transition smoothly, housebuilders now rely on robust construction project planning software. Trusted by housebuilders across the UK, Xpedeon ERP lets you unify new materials and track sustainability metrics for all your projects. Book your demo with Xpedeon ERP today to see how it can support your next eco-friendly building.
FAQs
What is low-carbon cement?
It's cement manufactured with significantly lower CO₂ emissions than standard cement. This is achieved by using carbon-saving methods like supplemental binders or CCS during production. The end product still functions as normal cement but carries a much smaller carbon footprint.
What is the difference between low-carbon concrete and traditional concrete?
Traditional concrete uses regular cement, sand and aggregate. Low-carbon concrete uses a low-carbon cement or extra additives so that the mix's total CO₂ is lower. In practice it behaves the same in construction. You get the same strength and curing, but the environmental impact per cubic metre is much less.
How is low-carbon cement made?
Producers cut emissions in three main ways: use alternative fuels such as biofuels, blend in industrial by-products like fly ash or slag to replace clinker and install carbon capture systems. A cement like EvoZero applies all three: it's blended and fired in a plant that captures roughly half its carbon, yielding a near-zero product.