2025 International Forum on Carbon Emission Reduction of Building Materials Industry Held in Beijing

From July 22 to 25, the "2025 International Forum on Carbon Emission Reduction in the Building Materials Industry" was held in Beijing. The forum was organized by the China Building Materials Federation (CBMF), with co-organizers including SINOMA International Engineering and the China Building Materials Academy. The event drew nearly 300 government officials, experts, and business representatives from countries including China, the UK, Germany, Canada, Japan and France. Attendees shared insights on advanced carbon reduction strategies, technical pathways, and practical achievements, and had the opportunity to visit China’s carbon capture demonstration projects.

At the forum, the "Global Initiative for Carbon Emission Reduction in the Building Materials Industry" was announced. This initiative encourages stakeholders worldwide to integrate low-carbon principles throughout the entire life cycle of building materials. It emphasizes the importance of development through innovation, collaboration, and collective action.

China has set clear climate targets: to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The country has rolled out a 2030–2060 "dual carbon roadmap," including its "1+N" policy framework, and the 14th Five-Year Plan for emissions reduction. At COP28, China also pledged to develop a comprehensive emission reduction plan covering all industries and greenhouse gases, including methane.

In the context of a global movement toward green and low-carbon initiatives, and driven by strong national efforts, transforming China’s building sector is vital for preventing further climate deterioration. Decarbonizing the cement industry is a critical step in this process. As Thomas Guillot, CEO of the Global Cement and Concrete Association, stated at the forum, "No single country or organization can tackle the climate challenge alone. Cross-border, cross-sector, and cross-industry cooperation is essential for achieving carbon neutrality."

Chen Guoqing, Executive Vice President of the China Building Materials Federation, reviewed the industry's advancements in several areas, including energy-saving retrofits, "Six-Zero" factory initiatives, the development of low-carbon standards, and international cooperation. He also outlined future priorities and proposed specific measures to enhance carbon reduction across the sector.

Energy-saving and Carbon-reduction Upgrades

China's building materials sector is actively promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions by concentrating on key industries. Technical guidelines for carbon reduction and survey reports have been completed for six sectors: cement, flat glass, ceramic tiles, sanitary ceramics, fiberglass, and refractory materials. These efforts outline clear pathways for a green transformation. Key measures include optimizing fuel structures, replacing coal with natural gas and electricity, and encouraging the use of distributed solar and wind energy.

CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) is considered an essential technology for achieving carbon neutrality in the building materials sector. Experts and representatives from the Global Cement and Concrete Association, Heidelberg Materials, CNBM Equipment Group, and BBMG provided updates on their CCUS projects and discussed the necessary policy support and technical pathways. Additionally, attendees of the forum visited BBMG’s carbon capture demonstration site in Beijing.

In March 2025, China officially included the cement industry in its national carbon emissions trading scheme. This move is expected to accelerate the phase-out of low-efficiency capacity and encourage the adoption of low-carbon technologies.

"Six-Zero" Factory Pilots 

China is currently developing 30 "Six-Zero" R&D projects aimed at the following targets:

• Zero purchased electricity

• Zero fossil fuels

• Zero use of virgin resources

• Zero carbon emissions

• Zero waste

• Zero on-site staff

Key examples include:

• Zero purchased electricity: Conch Cement’s Jining plant operates entirely on green electricity using a load-balancing control system to efficiently manage renewable energy.

• Zero fossil fuels: Tianjin Cement Institute built a pilot platform for co-firing hydrogen, rice husk powder, oil, and coal powder. Meanwhile, Beijing New Building Materials developed a plasterboard production technology using steam heat, achieving a thermal efficiency of 89.5%.

• Zero virgin resources: SINOMA International Engineering has developed a cement production line that utilizes the industrial by-product phosphogypsum to fully replace traditional limestone, producing both cement clinker and sulfuric acid.

• Zero carbon emissions: CNBM, BBMG, and China Resources have built CCUS demonstration lines capable of capturing 100,000–200,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Monalisa Group has built the world's first hydrogen-ammonia zero-carbon combustion line for ceramic production.

• Zero waste: BBMG Tongda achieved 100% utilisation of bauxite ore and zero solid waste discharge. Monalisa’s ceramic production lines now operate with full recovery of wastewater and residues.

• Zero on-site staff: Beijing New Building Materials developed a smart production system enabling fully automated raw material feeding, intelligent warehouse management, and closed-loop unmanned quality inspection.

Building a Low-Carbon Standards System

The sector is rapidly advancing the development of green traceability systems, which include the introduction of carbon labelling for building materials. A public service platform for carbon and environmental labelling is now up and running, and carbon footprint verification has been completed for 30 products from 14 companies.

The "dual carbon" standards framework is continuously improving. Carbon accounting rules and technical standards have been established for key subsectors, including cement, flat glass, fiberglass, and cement products. These standards provide clear metrics and guidelines for reducing emissions across the industry.

International Collaboration 

China’s building materials sector is actively enhancing global cooperation focused on low-carbon technologies, cutting-edge research, and digital transformation. It has engaged in dialogues with partners from countries such as Germany, France, and Switzerland, sharing its progress at international platforms like the GCCA CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference and the Cemtech ASIA. Joint events with C40 Cities have fostered synergies between urban decarbonization and green construction.

This year’s forum featured speakers from various organizations, including the VDZ, JETRO, METI, the Canadian Embassy in China, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Discussions covered topics such as European cement and concrete decarbonization strategies, opportunities for Sino-Japanese cooperation in green construction, and Canada’s pathway to low-carbon materials.

The release of the "Global Joint Initiative on Carbon Emission Reduction in the Building Materials Industry" underscored the need for deeper international collaboration and the integration of low-carbon principles throughout the lifecycle of building materials. By transforming low-carbon initiatives into a driving force for innovation and industrial upgrading, the building materials sector can significantly contribute to global climate goals.

As the industry navigates a crucial phase in its green transition, expanding international partnerships and sharing best practices will be essential for accelerating progress and fostering a more sustainable future.