Concrete reimagined: how Heidelberg Materials pushes industry towards cleaner production

Concrete is everywhere. It supports bridges, shapes skyscrapers and secures roads. Without it, the modern world would be almost unimaginable. However, it also contributes to the climate problem: the production of cement, the “glue” in concrete, causes around 8 percent of global CO₂ emissions — more than the entire aviation industry. How can this be addressed?

The cement plant revolution

On Norway's North Sea coast stands a cement plant that points to the future. In Brevik, Heidelberg Materials has built the world's first large-scale facility in the cement industry to capture carbon dioxide from production. Around 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ will be captured annually and shipped to an onshore terminal on the Norwegian west coast. From there, the CO2 will be transported by pipeline to permanent storage under the North Sea.

For the industry, this is a game-changer: for decades, the CO₂-intensive cement production process was considered impossible to decarbonise. Now, Heidelberg Materials is showing that it is possible.

The process is known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): CO₂ is filtered from exhaust gases during production, liquefied, and transported by ship to a terminal. From there, it goes into deep rock formations beneath the North Sea. The CO₂ storage project is called "Northern Lights" – a poetic title for a vital mission: climate protection.

Population growth: more concrete needed

The world needs concrete. By 2050, an estimated 2 billion additional people will live in cities. Bridges, homes, roads – all need to be built. Alternative materials such as wood, fungi or bamboo are important, but they alone cannot meet the demand. Therefore, anyone serious about achieving climate targets must make cement production more environmentally friendly.

Collaboration and incentives are important

However, Heidelberg Materials’ ambitious project in Brevik is no bargain. The project costs around 400 million euros. Without public assistance and without banks willing to break new ground, such projects would not be feasible. The Norwegian government supports it through the “Longship” programme: a state climate protection initiative that promotes pioneering projects capable of drastically reducing industrial emissions.

Deutsche Bank is one of the financing partners. In this role, it supports Heidelberg Materials, among other things, in the issuance of sustainability linked loans, whose terms are tied to sustainability targets.

For Heidelberg Materials, this is more than a financial transaction – it is also a signal to the markets: climate protection pays off.

As a bank, we see it as our responsibility to support our clients’ transformation as a reliable partner. The cement industry is generally considered a hard-to-decarbonise sector. We are convinced that CCS technology is an important and necessary building block to change this, and the plant in Brevik sends an important signal.
Lavinia Bauerochse, Head of Sustainable & Transformation Finance in the Corporate Bank

A shifting debate on CCS

The debate and understanding surrounding CCS technology have evolved. Ten years ago, the technology was anathema to many environmentalists. Too expensive, too risky, a “fig leaf” for the fossil fuel industry.

Today, there is a growing consensus that certain sectors, such as the cement industry, depend on CCS to achieve significant CO₂-reductions.

Alternative building materials and material recycling remain important developments for making the construction industry more sustainable. Nevertheless, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sees CCS as a key technology for sectors that cannot be easily electrified- and this includes the cement industry. According to its analysis, the Paris climate targets will hardly be achievable without such solutions.

First buildings planned

With carbon captured cement, buildings can now be planned that are not only beautiful but come with a minimised climate impact. Initial projects demonstrate this: the Nobel Center in Stockholm will be built with evoZero cement, Heidelberg Materials' first product based on carbon capture in Brevik. Infrastructure projects in Scandinavia are also relying on it. In the medium term, sustainability could transition from a niche topic to the standard in the industry.

With evoZero, we enable ambitious sustainable construction projects with significantly reduced CO₂ emissions that can be measured and proven. We want to shape the future of construction – and fundamentally change it.
Christoph Beumelburg, Director Group Communications & Investor Relations Heidelberg Materials

Conclusion and outlook

CCS is no panacea: the technology is still expensive; its implementation requires political will and investor confidence. But the opportunities are enormous: Brevik is proof that even industries with very high CO₂ emissions can transform.

And not just in Norway: Heidelberg Materials received the green light from the British government in autumn 2025 for the construction of another plant in Wales. The plant would be the second industrial-scale CCS facility in the cement industry worldwide. It is expected to capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually from 2029 For comparison: a medium-haul flight causes CO₂ emissions of approximately 1 tonne.