Holcim NA introduces ECOAsh Beneficiated Ash for Low-Carbon and Circular Building
Building on its commitment to accelerating green growth, Holcim North America, a leader in innovative and sustainable building materials, today announced the introduction of ECOAsh beneficiated ash within its Lafarge Western Canada operations.
With plans for future expansion into the United States, this strategic move not only demonstrates Holcim North America’s dedication to sustainability but also positions the company as an early adopter of innovative technology aimed at decarbonizing the construction industry.
ECOAsh embodies a circular and innovative solution, representing a significant leap toward sustainability. It stands as a high-quality, specification-grade Type F fly ash reclaimed from landfills and transformed into a valuable resource for enhancing cement and concrete construction applications.
“As we continue to build to support growing population demands, the integration of circular building materials such as ECOAsh plays a crucial role in driving our portfolio towards a more sustainable future,” said Toufic Tabbara, Holcim regional head, North America. “By embracing these strategies, we not only provide essential building materials but also establish the foundation for building greener and smarter cities while shaping the trajectory of our industry for generations to come.”
Fly ash, known for being a by-product of coal-fired power plant operations, is extensively used as a supplementary cementitious material. In addition to its performance and economic advantages, fly ash use is beneficial to the environment because it recycles an industrial by-product and can reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials. As the shift away from coal-fired power plants continues, addressing challenges related to sourcing reliable fly ash supplies prompts the exploration of harvesting and beneficiating legacy landfilled ash as a viable replacement.
“The transformation of landfill materials into high-value fly ash for sustainable building presents an exciting opportunity for our customers and us to build more with less and work towards a net-zero future,” said Brad Kohl, president and CEO of Lafarge, Western Canada. “At Holcim, we are fully dedicated to meeting future market demands by harnessing and enhancing extensive fly ash reserves secured through well-established, long-term sourcing agreements with electric utilities.”
Following extensive landfill ash evaluations, Holcim North America and Geocycle North America’s new state-of-the-art processing facility in Alberta—the first of its kind within Holcim’s global operations—will use advanced beneficiation technology and proprietary techniques to produce fly ash with equivalent performance and more consistent quality compared to any freshly produced Type F fly ash commercially available. The ECOAsh then undergoes rigorous testing in the plant’s certified quality-assurance laboratories to ensure it meets or exceeds regulatory standards for cement and concrete applications.
Commissioned in February, the new ECOAsh processing facility will commence production and the supply of products to customers throughout Western Canada in the first quarter of 2024.
