Our decarbonization strategy addresses the two main sources of CO₂ emissions inherent to lime production
- combustion emissions (one-third of our footprint). These emissions come from the fuels used to generate heat for calcination. We are upgrading our kilns, improving energy efficiency, and transitioning to low carbon or carbon neutral fuels, including sustainable biomass.
- process emissions (two-thirds of our footprint). These emissions are unavoidable, as they result from the chemical reaction that converts limestone into lime. To reduce them, we are developing Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies and projects across our global operations.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
CCS is one of the most effective ways to reduce large volumes of unavoidable CO₂ emissions. The process involves:
- capturing CO₂ from industrial operations
- concentrating and transporting it to a suitable location
- Permanently storing it safely in deep geological formations
We are collaborating with partners to engineer innovative CCS solutions through several major projects, including:
- CalCC at our Rety plant in France
- EVEREST in Flandersbach, Germany
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)
CCU refers to technologies that capture CO₂ and use it either directly (without altering it) or indirectly (by transforming it into new products) . Emerging applications currently being explored include:
- synthetic fuels
- chemicals
- construction aggregates for building materials
In most cases, CO₂ must be captured, concentrated, and purified before it can be transported or used.
Example projects include the CO₂ncreat project, which replaces cement and natural aggregates in building blocks, as well as R&D activities within the NKL project in Belgium and the Carbon2Chem project in Germany.
Exploring the new CCUS pathways
We are conducting multiple R&D activities and feasibility studies covering a wide spectrum of solutions, from large industrial partnerships to smaller, cutting-edge collaborations with research centers. These initiatives help us build the expertise required to deliver tomorrow’s low-carbon products.
An example for new pathways is our participation in the project ELECTRA, which focuses on developing R&D on electrical heating for lime production to avoid combustion-related CO₂ emissions and generate off-gases with a high CO₂ concentration, facilitating subsequent purification and liquefaction.
Helping customers to decarbonize
We are also innovating with our customers, developing a new generation of low-carbon lime and dolime products designed to help reduce scope 3 emissions across diverse industries. This approach strengthens our contribution to value chain decarbonization and supports customers in meeting their sustainability goals.
Lime as a natural carbon sink
Lime plays an important role in carbon cycles because it reabsorbs CO₂ during use. Many applications enable partial re-carbonation.
A 2020 EuLA study(1) showed that lime can reabsorb on average one-third of the process CO₂ emitted during production within the first year. This natural property offers strong potential for using lime as a carbon sink in the broader decarbonization ecosystem.
(1)Grosso M., Biganzoli L., Campo F. P., Pantini S., Tua C. 2020. Literature review on the assessment of the carbonation potential of lime in different markets and beyond. Report prepared by Assessment on Waste and Resources (AWARE) Research Group at Politecnico di Milano (PoliMI), for the European Lime Association (EuLA). Pp. 33
