[Interview] "Garbage Cement? That's an Idiot Claim"

[Cement Industry, Looking 30 Years Ahead]
③ Interview with Thomas Gillot, GCCA Chairman
"Using Pharmaceutical Waste and Animal Carcasses"
Reducing Conflicts through Information Sharing and Trust Building

Editor's NoteThe cement manufacturing industry plays a crucial role in the construction sector. However, it is also a major contributor, accounting for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the government setting a target to achieve carbon neutrality (Net Zero) by 2050, the domestic cement industry must tackle the dual challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving performance. Additionally, the industry faces complex and multifaceted conflicts. Environmental groups opposing the use of alternative fuels such as waste in cement production label it as 'garbage cement,' causing obstacles, while disputes with incinerator companies over waste disposal methods continue. Although investing in eco-friendly facilities requires enormous costs, the ready-mixed concrete industry strongly opposes cement price increases, and from October, a delivery payment linkage system will be implemented. To examine the eco-friendly cement production sites and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management strategies in Europe, which is about 30 years ahead of Korea, we visited the sites from the 20th to the 27th in cooperation with the Korea Cement Association.

"You say that just because waste is used, it is 'garbage cement'? That is an idiot-like behavior."

Thomas Guillot, President of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), said this during an interview with Korean journalists held in London, UK, on the 24th. This was in response to criticisms from some domestic environmental groups who have been condemning the use of various wastes in cement manufacturing for years.

President Guillot held up his business card and asked, "Is my business card made from recycled paper garbage? Is a car made from recycled steel a garbage car?" He added, "Do the people of Germany, where the alternative fuel utilization rate is high, think they live in houses made of garbage cement?" emphasizing that "using the energy contained in waste to produce cement is a circular economy."

The cement industry, known as a major greenhouse gas emitter alongside steel and petrochemicals, must part ways with fossil fuels in the era of the circular economy. The use of alternative raw materials is emerging as a key means to achieve carbon neutrality not only in Korea but worldwide in the cement industry.

During this European trip, officials from cement plants in Germany and Ireland revealed that they use a variety of wastes as fuel, ranging from pharmaceutical company waste to animal carcasses. They utilize any alternative fuel that produces calorific value similar to that of bituminous coal as much as possible. Waste is no longer considered waste after being treated at ultra-high temperatures above 1400℃ for 10 minutes in cement kilns.

Peter Hoddinott, former president of the European Cement Association who accompanied the trip, also supported this by saying, "When I worked at a European cement company, we even used human waste," adding, "Once completely dried and put into the kiln, it becomes an excellent fuel."

The GCCA, representing 80% of global cement companies, prioritizes 'sustainability for a better world' as its top goal. It aims to act as a catalyst to help cement companies achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has established a strategy to clarify that eco-friendly production processes are by no means greenwashing. It also plans to secure the driving force for various technologies and innovations necessary for carbon neutrality.

To reduce controversies over harmfulness, setting clear safety standards and a willingness to communicate with local communities appeared to be key. For example, Germany's Phoenix plant holds town hall meetings with residents every two to three months. They share information with the community when alternative fuel usage increases or when facilities are newly built or modified. The Briden plant in Ireland also reportedly displays real-time emissions from the site. Transparently disclosing production processes and building trust were effective remedies to minimize conflicts.

Developing decarbonization technologies is also essential. According to the GCCA roadmap, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology contributes the highest share at 36% toward carbon neutrality. CCUS prevents carbon from being released into the atmosphere and either uses it where needed or stores it underground. It is a critical eco-friendly technology indispensable for achieving carbon neutrality. The UK plans to invest 1 billion pounds in CCUS technology, France has decided to invest 1.2 billion euros in industrial decarbonization and 7 billion euros in green hydrogen. The European Union (EU) is preparing an investment of about 1 trillion euros to support the transition to a circular economy through the legislation of the European Climate Law.

Last year, the GCCA held a competition for startups, selecting excellent teams to carry out eco-friendly projects. Guillot said, "What might take large companies 5 to 10 years, startups can quickly test and identify possibilities within about a year."