MUCC and Kitakyushu Partner on Carbon Recycling for Cement Under METI Grant

Mitsubishi UBE Cement Corporation (MUCC) has initiated a pilot carbon recycling project at its Kyushu plant in Kitakyushu, backed by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), aiming to convert local industrial waste and cement emissions into carbon-storing construction materials—marking a bold step in decarbonising heavy industry and embedding circular economy principles in public infrastructure.

MUCC’s initiative, developed in collaboration with the City of Kitakyushu, is part of a national effort to promote low-carbon industrial ecosystems. The project has been selected under METI’s FY2024 grant programme titled “Enhancement Project of Self-Sustainable Resource Circulating System,” led by the Green Investment Promotion Organisation. The funding encourages deep partnerships between local governments, private firms, and academic institutions to transition Japanese industry toward circularity and climate resilience. At the centre of this programme is MUCC’s Kyushu Cement Plant in Kurosaki district, where CO₂ emitted during cement production will be captured and combined with industrial waste—from chemicals, steel manufacturing, and construction debris—to create new forms of aggregate, road base, and artificial carbonate sand. These materials will then be tested in the construction of public facilities across Kitakyushu, turning the city into a live demonstration of local carbon reuse in action.

Senior officials from the company and the city described this approach as “local waste for local use,” enabling more efficient materials management while reducing emissions from transporting raw materials. By localising both production and application, the model is expected to bring down costs, support environmental goals, and enable real-time feedback on the viability of carbon-negative construction materials. Japan’s cement industry, like its global peers, is under increasing scrutiny as cement production accounts for nearly 7% of worldwide carbon emissions—mainly due to the calcination of limestone and high energy use. MUCC’s project aims to provide a commercially viable pathway to cut emissions without sacrificing structural quality or increasing costs, particularly for large-scale public infrastructure.

The pilot also reflects Kitakyushu’s broader vision of becoming a circular economy hub. In 2022, the city established the Kitakyushu Circular Economy Vision Promotion Council—a multistakeholder platform combining industry, academia, and public sector input. Within this council, a specialised subcommittee led by MUCC has focused on the application of carbonation technology to repurpose waste cement. The current pilot emerged from this working group’s research and policy dialogue. Project engineers will conduct field trials on the recycled materials, testing for durability, carbon capture efficiency, and ease of integration into existing urban construction workflows. The results could inform national-level policy and potentially scale up into Japan’s broader decarbonisation strategy, offering a replicable blueprint for other industrial cities.

In addition to environmental benefits, the project aims to create value across the supply chain. Local waste materials will be converted into higher-value construction inputs, reducing landfill dependency. By creating new demand for carbon-recycled products, MUCC is also aiming to catalyse investment in low-emission building technologies and green jobs. Experts point to the project’s systemic design as a major strength. Unlike many sustainability efforts that focus narrowly on emissions reduction, this initiative addresses broader urban challenges—waste management, energy intensity, climate adaptation, and resource scarcity—through a unified solution. It also encourages public trust by embedding citizen participation and transparent local governance into the implementation process.

The partnership with the City of Kitakyushu is also seen as essential. Municipal support enables smoother permitting, integration into city planning, and potential adoption in new government building projects. By involving city officials from the outset, the project ensures alignment with wider regional development goals and public interest priorities. Looking forward, MUCC plans to refine the model and expand its reach. The goal is to establish decentralised carbon recycling networks that can be tailored to the waste profiles and economic needs of other regions across Japan. If successful, such a system could even be exported to fast-growing cities in Asia grappling with similar industrial pollution and infrastructure demands.

As climate action becomes a national imperative, and as ESG-linked capital flows increasingly reward decarbonisation efforts, Japan’s support for this pilot signals a shift toward integrating environmental innovation into mainstream industrial policy. For MUCC and the City of Kitakyushu, it is not just a matter of engineering but of redefining the future of sustainable development in urban Japan. The project marks a critical inflection point where traditional heavy industry and advanced climate science converge—offering a clear example of how legacy sectors can lead in the transition to a net-zero economy.

MUCC and Kitakyushu Partner on Carbon Recycling for Cement Under METI Grant