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What Will It Take to Decarbonise Europe’s Cement and Lime Industries?

Posted on: 23 June 2026

Bade Kizilaslan, Cement Europe

Europe's cement and lime industries are essential to modern life. From housing and hospitals to transport networks, clean energy infrastructure and data centres, their products help build the foundations of our economy and society.

At the same time, both sectors are working towards climate neutrality. This is one of the most significant industrial transformations underway in Europe today, requiring action across the entire value chain.

To help explain this journey, together with EuLA (European Lime Association), we have developed an animation and infographic exploring what it will take to decarbonise Europe's cement and lime industries.

A transition that starts long before production

When people think about industrial decarbonisation, they often focus on what happens inside the plant. In reality, the story begins much earlier and continues long after production.

It starts with access to raw materials and responsible quarry management. It continues through manufacturing, where innovation, alternative fuels, energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies are helping reduce emissions. It also extends to how products are used, specified and valued in the market.

The transition is not defined by a single technology or solution. It involves many different actions working together.

Understanding the bigger picture

Our recent infographic illustrates the different stages of the cement and lime value chain and highlights how industry action and enabling conditions need to work hand in hand.

While our industries continue to invest in innovation and low-carbon solutions, scaling these efforts require access to affordable energy, CO₂ infrastructure, further investment and stronger market demand for low-carbon products.

From progress to implementation

The stakes are high.

Encouragingly, important progress is being made. Industrial competitiveness is increasingly recognised as an essential part of the decarbonisation agenda. CO₂ infrastructure is moving higher up the policy agenda, while discussions on lead markets and investment support continue to advance.

Together, these developments reflect a growing understanding that competitiveness and decarbonisation must go hand in hand. They also signal a more practical phase of the transition, focused on creating the conditions that allow solutions to be deployed at scale.

The transition is already underway.

The opportunity now is to build on this momentum and translate progress into practical solutions that can be deployed at scale across Europe.

Watch the animation and explore the infographic to discover what it will take to decarbonise Europe's cement and lime industries.