With Asia accounting for 73% of global cement production, green cement manufacturer Fortera has teamed up with multinational giant Sumitomo Corporation to accelerate the adoption of its carbon-reducing ReCarb® technology. The partnership is set to focus on deploying Fortera’s low-to-zero-carbon cement plants across Asia, starting with Japan, where multiple potential sites have already been identified. The collaboration was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), with additional support from Sumitomo Corporation’s venture capital arm, Presidio Ventures, which invested in Fortera’s Series C funding earlier this year.
“We believe rapidly addressing the cement and concrete industry’s 8% contribution to global emissions is necessary to achieving climate goals. After witnessing Fortera’s Redding ReCarb Plant in operation, we wanted to lead the charge in bringing this transformative carbon mitigation solution to the Asian market. Social and environmental responsibility is a core value for us, making Fortera a natural partner as we work toward global decarbonisation,” said Ryosuke Nagai, General Manager of Sumitomo Corporation’s Industrial Material & System Strategic Business Unit.
Fortera’s ReCarb® technology offers a groundbreaking solution to the cement industry’s emissions challenges. By converting industrial CO2 from cement production into performance-enhancing cement, ReCarb reduces embodied carbon by 70% compared to traditional cement, as verified by third parties. When paired with renewable energy, Fortera’s process can achieve zero-carbon cement production. The proprietary reactor-based mineralisation technology not only captures and stores CO2 permanently but also turns it into a profit-generating asset.
“This partnership is a pivotal moment for the future of sustainable cement production because you can’t make a meaningful impact on the industry’s carbon emissions without partnering with major industry players in Asia, which is home to the largest cement market in the world. Because our technology meets the industry where it is, it can be deployed anywhere in the world using that region’s infrastructure, feedstocks, and supply chains. This partnership with Sumitomo will enable us to establish a strong foundation in Asia while we simultaneously solidify our domestic project pipeline,” said Ryan Gilliam, CEO of Fortera.
