How to build a circular city

CIRCULAR CITIES HUB FOR CIRCULAR LIVING AND BUILDING

Cities are at the forefront of the shift to a circular economy. With an estimated two billion new urban residents by 2050, our cities need to become more circular to secure a sustainable future.

We created the Circular Cities Hub with Bloomberg Media Studios to showcase what the world’s most advanced cities are doing to fast track the shift to circular living and building.

Holcim insulation delivering up to 40% better thermal performance inside world’s largest ‘Passive House’ office building - the Winthrop Center

With low-carbon cement, Holcim contributed to sustainably building one of the most energy-efficient schools in Vienna, the Bildungscampus Seestadt

For the new Milan M4 metro line, Holcim supplied concrete made with low-carbon pozzolanic cement and half a million tons of excavation materials sourced onsite from the same project

BUILD A CIRCULAR CITY

We expect 70% of the world population to be living in cities by 2050, adding 2.5 billion people - this rapid urbanization means cities can make a real difference in decarbonizing the built environment.

Circular cities are the cities of the future, and with Holcim products we can build them today.

Explore sections

Build with low-carbon materials
Build with recycled materials
Build with smart design
Build for energy efficiency
Build for nature

Build with low-carbon materials

ECOPact low-carbon concrete

ECOPact is the world’s first global range of green concrete, delivering 100% performance and starting from 30% less CO₂.

See ECOPact in action in Monterrey, Mexico

ECOPlanet low-carbon cement

ECOPlanet is the world’s broadest range of green cement, reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 30% with no compromise on performance.

See ECOPlanet in action in Seattle, USA

Build with recycled materials

Susteno

With up to 20% construction demolition materials (CDM) inside, Susteno is the first and only resource-saving cement in Europe that uses fine mixed granulate from demolished buildings as an additive.

See Susteno in action in St. Gallen, Switzerland

ECOCycle®

With our proprietary ECOCycle® circular technology platform, we are driving circular construction at scale. Holcim’s solutions with ECOCycle® recycled CDM inside include cement, concrete and aggregates.

See ECOCycle in action in Paris, France

Aggneo

Aggneo is Holcim’s range of high quality aggregates processed from recycled concrete. This circular solution can be used to build roads or as an ingredient in ready-mix concrete.

GET IN TOUCH

Discover our global portfolio for circular and low-carbon construction. See which of our brands are available near you:

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TEAM

Build with smart design

TectorPrint

3D printing construction with our proprietary ink TectorPrint can reduce material use by up to 50%. TectorPrint can be used to build structures held together solely through compression with no binders or reinforcements, making the material easily recyclable.

See TectorPrint in action in Venice, Italy

DYNAMax

With high strength and superior rigidity, DYNAMax ultimate performance concrete enables thinner and longer structures to optimize material use. Its durability also minimizes maintenance and lifecycle costs of a building.

See DYNAMax in action in Bucharest

Build for energy efficiency

Airium™

Our Airium™ mineral insulating foam reduces heating and cooling energy needs, avoiding the equivalent of 18 kg of CO₂ per m² annually for individual housing. It can fill any type of shape or cavity in order to maximize energy efficiency in a building, and it is fully recyclable.

Discover more

Elevate ISOGARD™

ISOGARD is Elevate's next-generation polyiso formulation and is the elite choice for cold-temperature insulation. It provides the highest thermal resistance per inch with up to 40% better thermal performance in cold temperatures than the competition.

Build for nature

Elevate UltraPly TPO

With its high resistance and waterproofing capacity, Elevate’s UltraPly TPO roofing membrane enables green roofing systems, helping bring nature into cities.

See UltraPly TPO in action in Anderlecht, Belgium

Hydromedia

Hydromedia permeable concrete allows rainwater to drain directly into the soil below, enabling the construction of urban forest environments without the need for irrigation.

See Hydromedia in action in Paris, France

Our newsletter: Building PROGRESS

Driven by our purpose to build progress for people and the planet, Holcim is on a mission to decarbonize building.

Sign up for Holcim’s Building Progress newsletter to learn more about our broad range of innovative and sustainable building solutions and how we can all play a part to build a net zero future together.

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