Inside Holcim’s Sustainable Construction Materials

There’s no shortage of talk about sustainable construction materials, but real progress happens when people come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and see what’s possible. That was the thinking behind a recent visit to Holcim’s Global Innovation Centre in Lyon, where our Head of Sustainability, Matt Robinson, joined a group of industry peers for a behind-the-scenes look at the future of low-carbon building.

The group spanned the full construction supply chain, including architects, engineers, contractors, and developers, all invited to explore the latest thinking in sustainable construction materials and concrete innovation. The focus was on the materials themselves and the power of collaboration to drive change at scale.

As Nick Powell, Head of Specification and Business Development, put it, “The inspiration behind inviting customers from across the entire construction supply chain to the Holcim Global Innovation Centre is rooted in the power of collaboration and shared progress. At a time when the industry must accelerate its shift toward sustainable and low-carbon solutions, Holcim recognises that meaningful change happens through collective action. By bringing together architects, engineers, contractors, developers, and other key stakeholders, the Innovation Centre becomes a dynamic hub for networking, ideation, and co-creation.”

“Visitors engage directly with Holcim’s experts, experience cutting-edge technologies, and interact with pioneering solutions designed to drive decarbonisation and circular construction. These immersive experiences inspire new ideas and provide a valuable platform for feedback and dialogue, ensuring Holcim’s innovations are shaped by real-world needs. Through hands-on demonstrations and open conversations, customers gain deeper insights into sustainable construction materials and digital construction tools, while contributing their unique perspectives. Ultimately, the Centre encourages an environment where interaction leads to innovation, and partnerships turn bold ideas into tangible impact for the built environment.”

During the visit, several technologies stood out as particularly exciting for their potential application within our own projects, especially in our ongoing search for smarter, more effective, sustainable construction materials:

• 3D Printed Concrete Structures: Holcim’s 3D printing technology allows for complex, curved forms that are difficult to achieve with traditional methods. This  expands design flexibility and offers faster production and delivery times and reduces formwork waste.
• Porous Concrete for Urban Drainage: This advanced concrete formulation allows water to pass through, making it ideal for urban paving where managing surface water, run-off, and reducing flood risk is increasingly critical.
• ECOPact Low-Carbon Concrete: As one of Holcim’s flagship low-carbon products, ECOPact can reduce CO2 emissions by at least 30% without affecting performance, helping project teams meet increasingly stringent sustainability targets.

Following the visit, we have already begun integrating these insights into live projects. We’ve specified Holcim’s new CEM VI mix at Rochester Row to reduce embodied carbon. The project is also adopting Holcim’s takeback scheme, returning 60.5 tonnes of surplus concrete to the Holcim EcoCycle programme, where it has been fully recycled for reuse in new concrete mixes.

Visits like these help ensure that innovation is something we actively bring into our projects. They keep us connected to the latest developments in sustainable construction materials, so we can continue supporting clients in delivering future-ready, responsible spaces.

Thank you to Nick Powell and Anh Nguyen for sharing their expertise on the day. Let’s keep collaborating for increased sustainability and performance across projects.