The Mexican cement company expects the market to be "very receptive" to the new mix, said Davide Zampini, head of research and development. "It's a significant change from what is conventionally expected from blended cements."

The Mexican cement company Cemex will begin using a new manufacturing method that will reduce its consumption of a key intermediate ingredient and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the company reported today Thursday.

Scientists say the industry releases between 8% and 9% of global CO2 emissions annually, making it one of the biggest polluters.

To address this problem, Cemex will begin a process of "micronization," or fine grinding, of its clinker, the heated mixture of limestone and minerals that is an intermediate product in cement manufacturing, the company said.

By "micronizing" the clinker along with a proprietary blend of chemical additives, Cemex will need to use only a fraction of the clinker it previously put in its cement, Davide Zampini, Cemex's head of research and development, said before the announcement.

On average, mixed cements are made up of 73% clinker and 27% other products, such as gypsum, cementitious additives such as fly ash and slag, and fillers such as limestone, Zampini explained. Replacing clinker with other products usually weakens the strength of the cement.

However, thanks to the micronization of the clinker, Cemex will be able to reduce the mixture to approximately 50-50 without compromising its strength, he added.

Cemex expects the market to be "very receptive" to the new mix, Zampini said. "It's a significant change from what is conventionally expected from blended cements."

A large part of the cement industry's CO2 emissions comes from clinker manufacturing, according to Zampini.

About 60% of CO2 emissions from clinker come from the reaction caused when the limestone used to make it is fired at extremely high temperatures, Zampini said, and another 40% comes from the fuels used to heat the kilns.

The carbon footprint of the new formula is less than half that of the reference, Zampini said. It will also reduce costs, since fillers mixed with clinker are much cheaper.

"We want to get it up and running as soon as possible," Zampini said, adding that Cemex had already managed to convert a plant to the new method.

He did not give a figure for how many plants would be switched initially, but said the switch would occur using "existing assets" and with minimal investment "in a relatively short time."