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ABCD: A Groundbreaking Alliance to Accelerate the Transition to Low-Carbon Concrete and Cement
Bouygues Construction, CB Green, Ecocem, and POINT.P are launching the "Action Béton & Ciment Durables" alliance
In response to the climate emergency, four major players in the construction value chain— Bouygues Construction, CB Green, Ecocem France, and POINT.P —are pooling their expertise through the Action Béton & Ciment Durables (ABCD) alliance. This collective initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of concrete, immediately available solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and cement, which account for a significant portion of the construction sector’s CO₂ emissions.
A partnership to scale up solutions that are already available
Concrete remains an essential material today for building homes, infrastructure, and public facilities. However, cement—one of its main components—accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions and approximately 12% of France’s industrial emissions. For the founding members of ABCD, the challenge is no longer to demonstrate the effectiveness of low-carbon solutions, but rather to accelerate their adoption on a large scale.
Founded on a shared conviction—“concrete must evolve, and it can evolve right now” —the alliance brings together complementary players covering the entire value chain: mineral processing with CB Green, innovative binders with Ecocem, concrete production and distribution with POINT.P, and on-site construction with Bouygues Construction. Together, they aim to promote proven solutions that, among other things, reduce the proportion of clinker—the main contributor to cement emissions—in favor of materials with a lower carbon footprint.
CB Green, a key player in the decarbonization of concrete
A subsidiary of the CB Group dedicated to sustainable mineral solutions, CB Green brings to the alliance its expertise in the utilization of low-carbon mineral resources and mineral substitution solutions. Thanks to limestone fillers with a very low carbon footprint, CB Green helps significantly reduce emissions associated with concrete formulations without disrupting existing industrial processes. This pragmatic approach enables industry professionals to quickly embark on their environmental transition while maintaining the technical performance of the materials.
“Low-carbon concrete is no more expensive to produce when it is incorporated from the design stage. What we are advocating with ABCD is that carbon criteria become the rule, not the exception, in specifications.” Nicolas Moreau, CEO of CB Green
Beyond technology, ABCD also aims to drive changes in standards, specifications, and market practices to promote the widespread adoption of the most sustainable solutions. With more than twenty organizations already on board, the alliance intends to champion a vision centered on reducing emissions at the source, making collective innovation a key driver of transformation in the construction sector.