Climate Change

Climate Change



CIMPOR continually invests in reducing its carbon footprint by developing resilient products and solutions adapted to the impacts of climate change, protecting people, heritage, and the environment.

Strategies adopted by CIMPOR include Carbon Neutrality and Energy Transition, along with a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, seeking a more sustainable future for all.


Carbon Neutrality

CIMPOR invests 130 million euros in reducing direct CO2 emissions by 37% by 2030. The EU objective is clear – achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. CIMPOR recognises the need for this ambitious goal, which must be taken on board by the entire value chain of our industry, along with all stakeholders and economic actors.CIMPOR has set its targets for reducing CO2 emissions registered in 1990 by 2030.

For CIMPOR to establish its long-term strategy (2050) and continue to do its part, several areas need to be considered. These include national strategies, public support policies, funding mechanisms, R&D, and the development of necessary infrastructures. In an unprecedented joint effort between key Portuguese and European players, the long-term investments required will now be made into a more reliable framework.

Read CIMPOR's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 here. 

Our carbon neutrality strategy has been developed along the typical cement industry value chain and is grounded in the 5C approach, drawn up in 2020 in the CEMBUREAU Roadmap 2050. The potential for reducing CO2 emissions in this 5C approach covers the construction value chain, i.e., Clinker, Cement, Concrete, Construction and (re)Carbonation.



The main drivers for reducing direct and indirect CO2 emissions, in addition to the modernisation of current industrial assets, are as follows:

 5 C

     Main drivers

Clinker (C1):
  • Decarbonated alternative raw materials.
  • Alternative Fuels.
  • Energy Efficiency (Thermal).
  • Low carbon clinker and use of mineralisers.
  • Renewable hydrogen and electrification of some industrial processes.
  • CCUS technologies.
Cement (C2):
  • Reducing clinker in cement and using new cement materials (incl. calcined clays).
  • Electric energy: reducing consumption and using carbon-neutral renewable electric energy.
  • Carbon-neutral transport.
Concrete (C3)
  • Reducing cement use in concrete.
  • Carbon-neutral transport.
Construction (C4)
  • Efficient use of concrete.
  • Reuse and Recycle.
  • Using concrete to reduce CO2 emissions in other sectors.
(re)Carbonation (C5)
  • CO2 capture in concrete.
  • CO2 capture in DW and recycled concrete aggregates.


Given the importance of the subject, CIMPOR has regularly contributed to the development of low carbon technology roadmaps for the national and international cement sector. Some examples are listed below:  

•    IEA/WBCD Cement Technology Roadmap 2050 (2018): update of the original 2009 version, the first sectoral low carbon technology roadmap under G-8;
•    CEMBUREAU Low Carbon Roadmap 2050 (2013);
•    CEMBUREAU Carbon Neutrality Roadmap 2050 (2020).


Energy Transition

CIMPOR invests 130 million euros in reducing direct CO2 emissions by 37% by 2030.

In 2020, CIMPOR committed to investing 100 million euros in modernising its industrial assets and in R&D [research and development] projects that contribute to reducing direct CO2 emissions by 37% by 2030.

This measure, which is integrated in the company’s long-term environmental strategy, is part of the company’s plan to transition to a carbon-neutral economy, which is set to take place in the middle of this century.

CIMPOR plans to increase the use of alternative energy sources over fossil fuels, from the current figure of 30% to over 70%, to avoid waste ending up in landfills and reduce the use of conventional fuels. Waste co-processing , a practice that CIMPOR has widely adopted, has become an essential pillar of the company’s CO2 emission reduction strategy.

The target set for 2030 also includes investing inphotovoltaic panels and waste heat recovery equipment to produce electric energy. CIMPOR will therefore be able to satisfy 30% of its production units' energy consumption needs itself.

Energy transition is part of the commitment to sustainable operations in a bid to substantially contribute to the decarbonisation of our economy.