Bamburi Cement rallies construction players to adopt sustainable construction to cut carbon emissions
Bamburi Cement has kicked off a regional construction sector thought leadership series to rally the sector towards decarbonisation.
In the first installment of the series ending this year, the company targets a dialogue with about 600 architects, designers, engineers, developers, contractors, materials manufacturers, and industry bodies in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi, with a crucial role in transitioning towards a low-carbon pathway.
The built environment accounts for around 42% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions. Building operations account for approximately 27% of overall emissions with the embodied carbon of only four construction and infrastructure materials – cement, iron, steel, and aluminium accounting for an additional 15%.
Speaking to sector players in Mombasa, Bamburi Cement CEO Mohit Kapoor urged the sector to lead the way in securing a decarbonized and competitive future for the sector.
“The construction process and the materials used contribute heavily to carbon emissions (CO2). We are calling for a sector collaboration and a shift towards sustainable construction which uses greener and more environmentally friendly construction solutions,” Mr. Kapoor said.
These engagements come amid local and global pressure for cement and concrete sector players to take ambitious steps toward decarbonizing and making building environments more sustainable.
In efforts to offer a greener choice of building materials, Bamburi Cement is transitioning to low-carbon certified and sustainably produced cement brands, which have more than 30% fewer CO2 emissions than regular Portland cement.
“The choice of building materials is crucial to sustainable construction. Today, most of our line of certified and sustainably produced cement brands have more than 30% lower CO2 emissions as compared to the Ordinary Portland Cement or CEM I cement. Our flagship product is Duracem 42.5 cement with a massive CO2 reduction of 64%,” Kapoor added.
Other initiatives by the company towards sustainable construction include the restoration of biodiversity value through the rehabilitation of its quarries, reducing the use of fossil fuels and replacing them with alternative fuels like biomass and industrial waste, as well as the partnership with 14 Trees Kenya to introduce the use of 3D printing technology in construction which cuts CO2 emissions by up to 80%.
As a member of the Holcim Group, the company whose subsidiaries include Hima Cement (Uganda), Bamburi Special Products, Lafarge Eco Systems and Diani Estates, has set an ambition to halve its direct emissions from building by 2030 in accordance with the Paris Agreement for climate change (COP21) in 2015.
According to the United Nations Climate Action, to avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a livable planet, global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels which will only be achieved by 45% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
