Heidelberg Materials Launches Carbonation Plant in Poland for Low Carbon Cement Production

Heidelberg Materials has officially launched a first-of-its-kind industrial-scale carbonation facility at its cement plant in Górażdże, Poland, marking a major stride in the decarbonisation of construction materials. The facility pioneers the ReConcrete process—a patented technology that accelerates carbon capture by treating recycled concrete paste (RCP) with exhaust gases from cement kilns.

The pilot plant is designed to chemically bind carbon dioxide into recycled concrete paste, transforming the RCP into a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). This reduces the reliance on traditional clinker, the most energy-intensive and carbon-heavy component of cement. According to company officials, the process not only permanently binds 100 to 150 kg of CO2 per tonne of RCP but also avoids up to 850 kg of emissions otherwise released during clinker production. The facility receives its RCP from Heidelberg Materials’ advanced recycling centre in Katowice, Poland. There, concrete waste is selectively crushed and separated, allowing high-quality sand, gravel, and paste to be recovered. The carbonated RCP is then reintroduced into the cement production cycle as a low-emission component.

Officials noted that this project demonstrates how circularity and sustainability can work hand-in-hand to meet global climate goals. The company aims to use this Polish facility as a template for scaling similar low carbon cement initiatives across its international operations. The carbonation project is part of the wider “Carbon4Minerals” research programme, supported by European and Swiss innovation funding bodies. With the infrastructure now in place, Heidelberg Materials will proceed with operational trials to evaluate the technology under industrial conditions.

By embedding sustainability into every step of its value chain, Heidelberg Materials is reinforcing its commitment to climate-resilient construction. The success of this Polish facility could serve as a blueprint for greener cement manufacturing globally, aligning with both circular economy principles and climate targets.

Heidelberg Materials Launches Carbonation Plant in Poland for Low Carbon Cement Production