Holcim Pushes Low-CO2 Construction Agenda as CiTeC Marks 30 Years

Holcim México marked the 30th anniversary of its Construction Technology Innovation Center (CiTeC) —one of Latin America’s most advanced materials laboratories—by outlining a national plan to expand the use of low-carbon concrete, circular construction, and energy-efficient technologies across real estate and infrastructure. Holcim and government representatives highlighted four priorities to scale low-carbon construction: modernizing standards for low-CO₂ materials and adopting Environmental Product Declarations; harmonizing regulations for recycling construction and demolition materials; expanding alternative fuels and energy sources in production; and updating regulations so clean technologies improve industry competitiveness.

According to Holcim Mexico CEO Christian Dedeu, the company’s decarbonization strategy is anchored in two core products—ECOPact low-carbon concrete and ECOPlanet sustainable cement—developed through CiTeC. ECOPlanet now represents 56% of Holcim’s cement sales, reducing CO₂ emissions by 35% to 65%, with a goal of 77% by 2027. ECOPact currently accounts for 15% of concrete sales, and the company intends to reach 27% by 2027 and 50% by 2030.

Through ECOPact and ECOPlanet, Holcim avoided 1.7 million tons of CO₂ in 2024 alone, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 355,000 households. Additionally, Holcim is investing MX$56 million to install 27 new silos with 2,600 tons of capacity across its ready-mix plants to expand ECOPact production. ECOPact has already supported major projects, including Presa Libertad in Nuevo Leon—avoiding 80,000 tons of CO₂—and Torre Moranta, the first building constructed entirely with ECOPact.

In November, Holcim inaugurated Mexico’s first fully electric ready-mix concrete plant in Zapopan, Jalisco, a MX$51 million project aligned with its NextGen Growth 2030 plan. The facility includes eight electric mixer trucks and an electric loader supported by an internal charging system capable of powering the fleet for a full day. Holcim now operates 77 ready-mix plants, seven cement plants, and one grinding facility nationwide, and plans to replicate the Zapopan model in regions with high emissions.

Pedro Garza, Director of Sales and Concrete Operations, said the project “reflects our vision to decarbonize the construction industry and advance toward a net-zero model by 2050.” Electrifying the plant eliminates 110,000 liters of diesel per year, cuts 300 tons of CO₂, reduces internal noise by 90%, and lowers energy costs by 67%.

Another key component of Holcim’s sustainability strategy is expanding access to greener materials through Disensa, its construction retail network. Holcim plans to grow Disensa from 200 to more than 2,500 stores by 2030, part of a global target of 5,000 stores across Latin America.

The company notes that Latin America faces a 26-million-unit housing deficit, with nearly half of homes self-built. Disensa provides up to 85% of materials needed for a typical home, along with design support and competitive pricing. The 2023 acquisition of Indar added 10,600 items to the Disensa portfolio. Disensa now operates under three store formats—Express, Standard, and MAX—to serve dense urban zones and remote rural communities with limited access to quality materials. 

Reviewing the company’s progress in 2025, Alejandra Quintero, CMO of Holcim Mexico, noted that Holcim has taken an industry leading approach in forging a more sustainable construction sector. “With our solutions, we are demonstrating that it is possible to build responsibly without compromising performance,” she said.

The sustainable materials market is projected to reach US$595 billion by 2030, growing 10.6% annually. The Global Cement and Concrete Association targets CO₂ reductions of 20% per ton of cement and 25% per cubic meter of concrete by 2030.