Bouygues Construction and Ecocem go for CO2 reduction in construction with ACT

Innovative partnership focused on broad deployment of scalable low-carbon cement technology ACT to dramatically reduce the footprint of construction projects.

Bouygues Construction, a leading global construction company, and Ecocem, Europe's leader in low-CO2 cement technologies, have signed a global innovation partnership around ACT, Ecocem's scalable low-CO2 cement technology. The partnership marks an important step in the shared ambition to significantly reduce the construction industry's carbon footprint.

Following thorough laboratory research and extensive, large-scale testing by Bouygues Construction's R&D and innovation team in partnership with Ecocem, the goal is to promote and facilitate the use of Ecocem's ACT cement technology within Bouygues Construction's projects. The partnership focuses on three core areas designed to independently test, evaluate and validate Ecocem's ACT technology:

• Independent laboratory testing: Bouygues Construction will conduct a comprehensive testing program at its COFRAC-accredited materials science laboratory in Magny-les-Hameaux, France, to assess the performance of ACT technology under laboratory conditions.
• Initial large-scale testing: In 2025, concrete walls will be built at Bouygues Construction's Scale One® facility in Chilly-Mazarin, France, under both winter and summer conditions. The walls will be extensively monitored to test all aspects of preparation, processing, pouring, curing and early formwork removal of the concrete.
• Full mock-up construction: after successful initial testing, a full model is built, including all structural components such as floors, walls, columns and beams. This is done under typical construction conditions and in parallel with the completion of ACT technology certification by Ecocem.

Comments on the partnership

Edward Woods, head of R&D and innovation at Bouygues Construction, said, "At Bouygues Construction, our focus is on 'Building for Life.' To achieve that, we need to minimize the environmental impact of construction projects. Together with Ecocem, we are focusing on scalable innovations that rapidly reduce emissions. The validation of ACT technology is an important step to adopt this solution worldwide."

Conor O'Riain, Managing Director of Ecocem Europe, added: "This partnership with a major player like Bouygues Construction marks a turning point in making the construction industry more sustainable. It shows that scalable, cost-effective solutions like ACT are ready for large-scale deployment."