Circular construction
We’re scaling circular construction in metropolitan areas across the world with ECOCycle. By building cities from cities, Holcim creates high-value solutions that save valuable primary materials and minimize waste, as sustainability drives profitable growth.
As the world’s population grows and urbanizes, we’re building the equivalent of Madrid every week. We need to do so sustainably, which is why the future of construction is circular and centers on reusing, recycling, upcycling and reducing the materials used.
SCALING CIRCULAR CONSTRUCTION WORLDWIDE
Building cities from cities with ECOCycle, our proprietary circular technology, Holcim addresses this need and is optimally positioned to scale circular construction across the world.
In 2025, Holcim recycled 8 million tons of construction demolition materials (CDM), and our ambition is to recycle over 20 million tons of CDM per year by 2030, in line with our NextGen Growth 2030 strategy.
We add value by reducing use of primary materials, conserving natural resources and minimizing landfill – while sustainability is driving profitable growth as we generate revenue from recycling and high-value products derived from recycled materials.
HIGH-VALUE ECOCYCLE SOLUTIONS
ECOCycle guarantees a minimum of 10% and up to 100% of recycled CDM. Solutions range from alternative raw materials for use in low-carbon cement formulations, to recycled aggregates for use in ready-mix concrete, precast and mortars, or as fillers for road construction.
By 2030, Holcim is targeting more than CHF 800 million in net sales from products with ECOCycle inside – defined as products and solutions containing at least 10% CDM – and in 2025 we reached CHF 550 million.
Our high-value sustainable solutions incorporating recycled material are provided to customers with no compromise on quality and performance.
Brügelmannstrasse Gymnasium in Cologne, Germany, an icon of sustainable, energy-efficient construction, was built using ECOPact ready-mix concrete with ECOCycle construction demolition materials inside, helping to close the material loop in construction.
ACCELERATING PROFITABLE GROWTH WITH CIRCULAR CONSTRUCTION
Holcim is accelerating profitable growth and the adoption of circular construction by expanding our footprint, advocating for building norms and standards, scaling our ECOCycle technology and pioneering innovation.
Expanding our circular construction footprint
Holcim is leading the shift to circular construction with our extensive footprint of over 104 circular construction hubs in or near major metropolitan areas where we operate – giving us excellent access to CDM – and we’re targeting 150 by 2030.We’re growing organically and investing in recycling capacity and value-accretive M&A, as well as partnering with municipalities, companies and industry players.
- Advocating for building norms and standards
We’re actively engaging with policymakers to evolve building norms and standards, promote circular construction and increase permitted recycled content, as well as pushing for stricter landfill regulations.
- Scaling ECOCycle technology
Holcim is continuously scaling ECOCycle, producing a range of building materials and solutions that carry this label with no compromise on quality and performance. Our ECOCycle technology is currently available in 12 countries with more to follow.
- Accelerating circular construction with innovation
Pioneering innovation in circular construction, Holcim is leveraging advanced technologies to produce high-value CDM, as well as implementing digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) across our operations to enable more sustainable, resource-efficient building solutions.
ADVANCING CIRCULAR CONSTRUCTION WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Through innovation, Holcim is pushing the boundaries of our ECOCycle circular technology, and expanding into new markets and applications.
We’re continually launching game-changing technologies, such as our new advanced crushing systems that enables us to upcycle 100% CDM into new building solutions, including asphalt, aggregates, ready-mix, precast and mortars.
Here are four CDM growth areas for Holcim:
Improved processing and advanced sorting technologies enable us to achieve higher performance, consistency and overall quality.
Innovation allows for use of CDM in a wider range of applications, and use of recycled aggregates in ready-mix concrete is accelerating.
Using CDM as an alternative decarbonated raw material in cement enables more resource-efficient production and helps reduce the CO2 footprint of the clinker.
New technologies reduce the clinker factor in cement and reduce its CO2 footprint, by incorporating CDM as a mineral component.
ADVOCACY
Our advocacy efforts are focused on creating a policy environment that favors circularity. We actively engage with policymakers to evolve building norms and standards, promoting recycled content in infrastructure and building projects. We are also a leading voice advocating for stricter landfill regulations and supporting accounting frameworks such as the Global Circularity Protocol (GCP).
Global Circularity Protocol
Holcim is proud to be a Front Runner Coalition member for the Global Circularity Protocol for business (GCP), launched at COP30 by the WBCSD and the One Planet Network. Shaped by over 150 experts, the GCP is the world’s first global voluntary framework to provide a standardized approach for organizations to measure, manage, and communicate their circularity impacts to stakeholders. As a member, our organization is demonstrating leadership by committing to test and implement the GCP across our business and value chain, actively contributing to a framework that can unlock significant material savings, avoid CO₂ emissions, and promote economic growth by accelerating the transition to circular business models.
Circular construction in action
Our newsletter: Building PROGRESS
Sign up for Holcim’s Building Progress newsletter to learn more about how we are creating superior value across the built environment – from infrastructure and industry to buildings – with our broad range of innovative and sustainable building solutions.
Please note by providing your personal data in the contact form you agree to receive news and information from Holcim. You can opt-out any time. Please check our privacy policy for more information about how we collect and process your personal data.
