U.S. environmental groups, backed by Swiss proxy adviser Actares, are pressuring cement maker Holcim to reduce its carbon footprint ahead of the planned 2025 spinoff of its North American business. The Concrete Change campaign, organized by Industrious Labs, called for Holcim to phase out energy-intensive wet kilns and establish at least one net-zero cement plant in North America by 2030.
Cement production is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, responsible for around 6% of global output. Holcim has defended its environmental efforts, pointing to investments in carbon capture projects in North America and a recent stake in U.S. low-carbon cement start-up Sublime Systems.