• 5 MIN READ

State of Play: Cement and Concrete

How Industry Collaboration and Innovation Are Shaping The Future of Cement and Concrete

This Industrial Innovation Initiative’s July 2025 plenary brought together leaders from the cement and concrete sector to share valuable insights on their work. While recent policy shifts, like the rollback of critical clean energy tax credits and cancellation of key US Department of Energy (DOE) industrial awards, are disappointing and concerning, participants demonstrated that progress continues.  

Here are a few high-level takeaways from the conversation: 

Company Commitments: Companies across the sector remain committed to ambitious internal emissions reduction targets, and several speakers shared that these goals are well within reach. Through diligence and innovation, companies are advancing their goals while driving economywide emissions reductions. One speaker shared that their company is significantly reducing Scope 2 emissions, as the market and technology have evolved, making it both a cost-effective and sound business decision. Several speakers highlighted success replicating solutions across projects, underscoring the importance of deploying technology at scale to accelerate commercialization. 

Collaboration & Shared Risk: Cement and concrete companies are increasingly making capital investments with their emissions targets in mind. However, companies are often expected to absorb the full risk and cost of these investments. This can be a significant barrier, especially as confidence in consistent federal support wanes. There is also frequently limited visibility into, or understanding of, the benefits of these investments to stakeholders along the whole supply chain. Speakers emphasized the importance of continuing to lean into industry-wide collaboration to share risk and reward. As one speaker noted, genuine collaboration is happening. This is encouraging, and it is more efficient and accelerates the impact compared to each company going about it independently. 

Market Innovation: Cement and concrete are commodity products, making it difficult to secure a green premium, especially from buyers without explicit carbon goals. However, there is an opportunity to stack carbon savings along the supply chain. Developing voluntary carbon markets and book and claims systems offer a pathway for producers to monetize carbon savings. As one speaker shared, companies can purchase environmental attribute certificates (EACs), which function similarly to renewable energy credits (RECs), to access flexible solutions. These mechanisms help create a virtuous cycle, enabling concrete producers to verify their use of lower-carbon cement and generate revenue from the associated carbon credits. 

Federal Opportunities: The Surface Transportation Reauthorization process is underway and presents a timely opportunity to elevate the benefits of blended and low-carbon cements. Permitting reform also presents a pathway to regulatory changes that could enable greater use of alternative fuels in cement production. I3‘s nonpartisan, consensus-based voice is uniquely positioned to support efforts like these to help shape industrial policy and programs while advancing a competitive US economy, thriving livelihoods for workers, a safe and healthy environment, and a stable climate. 

Thanks to our I3 members and participant speakers for sharing these valuable insights. Want to learn more about some of the key organizations shaping the sector?

Check out some of the recent work below:

Contact us for more information about the Industrial Innovation Initiative and how you can join this growing effort.

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Labor Engagement Manager for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Alejandro comes to GPI from Labor Union SEIU-United Service Workers West. He represented union workers from downtown Los Angeles and LA’s westside corridor of Century City, Westwood, and Beverly Hills. Alejandro enforced various collective bargaining agreements for union workers, ensuring annual wage increases, health insurance, and other benefits and protections. In addition, he worked with union leaders and outside stakeholders, such as community partners, public agencies, politicians, and industry experts, to develop and execute union campaigns. Alejandro was also part of the Los Angeles-Justice for Janitors 2021 union contract campaign—he helped execute and coordinate large-scale actions across LA’s metropolitan area. Previously, he served as the Nevada state canvassing director at For Our Future Action Fund. He holds a BA in international studies and Italian from the University of Kansas.

Senior Program Coordinator for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Carrie Danner joined the Great Plains Institute in 2023 and serves as the operations coordinator for the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management team. In her work, she supports all projects within the program to elevate operations, particularly in grant-making and event planning. Carrie earned a bachelor’s degree from Knox College in environmental studies. Prior to joining GPI, she supported programs at the Conservation Corps of Minnesota & Iowa as their member experience administrator.

Industry Program Coordinator, GPI

Alana joined GPI in 2024 as a program associate on the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management team, specifically supporting the Industrial Innovation Initiative, where she helps to advance industrial decarbonization through GPI’s consensus-building approach. Alana previously worked as an account executive at Jamf, where she helped current K-12 education customers improve and scale the management and security of their Apple device deployments. Alana has spent most of her professional years working with Minnesota nonprofits, including two years as an AmeriCorps member with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Zachary Byrum, Research Analyst, WRI

Zachary Byrum is a Research Analyst in WRI's U.S. Climate Program, where he provides technology and policy analysis for carbon removal and deep decarbonization. His work focuses on pathways to reduce industrial emissions as well as bolstering technological carbon removal. Prior to WRI, Zach was a research assistant in the Carbon Management Research Initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy. In the preceding years, he served as White House Intern in the National Economic Council under the Obama Administration and then an assistant analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. Zach holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Goucher College.

Senior Advisor of Industrial Innovation, WRI United States

Angela Anderson is the Director of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Removal in the Climate Program. She leads WRI's growing portfolio of work in industrial decarbonization and carbon removal and aims to change narratives around “hard-to-abate” sectors and promote the natural and technological interventions required to achieve net-zero targets. Prior to joining WRI, Angela worked as a program director, coalition builder, international advocate, and campaign strategist. She led the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists for ten years; facilitated US-NGO engagement in the international climate negotiations while at US Climate Action Network and at the Pew Environmental Trust; and founded Clear the Air, a national coalition to reduce pollution from power plants. Angela holds a B.A. in political science from Colorado State University.

Vice President of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Patrice Lahlum is the Vice President of the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management program at the Great Plains Institute. The Institute, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, works with diverse stakeholders and communities across the country to transform the energy system to benefit people, the economy, and the environment. We strive to combine our unique consensus-building approach, expert knowledge and analysis, and local action to promote solutions that strengthen communities, shore up the nation’s industrial base, and enhance domestic energy independence, all while eliminating carbon emissions. Patrice oversees several initiatives, including the Carbon Capture Coalition, Industrial Innovation Initiative, Carbon Action Alliance, and the Regional Carbon Capture Deployment Initiative.

Senior Content Specialist for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Kate Sullivan joined the Great Plains Institute in 2019. As Senior Content Specialist, Kate uses her analytical and design skills to provide research, writing, and logistical support across the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management team. Prior to joining GPI, Kate worked as an Energy Counselor in the Center for Energy and Environment’s residential department, assisting homeowners with their energy needs and providing resources for efficiency upgrades. Kate earned her BA in Biology from St. Olaf College with an emphasis in Environmental Studies.

Senior Program Manager for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Jill Syvrud joined the Great Plains Institute in 2017 and serves as the program manager for the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management Program. In addition to overseeing the overall program, Jill directly supports the Industrial Innovation Initiative, a coalition advancing decarbonization solutions for the Midcontinent region’s most important industrial sectors. Jill earned a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a master of science degree in science technology and environmental policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Jill’s past experience includes multiple graduate research assistantships concentrating on technology innovation and sustainable megacities, as well as a previous position as an administrative and outreach coordination intern with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.