South Korean contractor Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Swiss-based building materials and aggregates company, Holcim, for joint development and technical cooperation on low-carbon construction materials.

With this agreement, Hyundai E&C announced that it will promote studies on net-zero realisation and expand the applications of low-carbon construction materials, including the development of low-carbon new materials using calcined clay to reduce carbon emissions, and the development of high-durability concrete technology for the marine environment. 

Following the MOU signing ceremony at the Holcim’s headquarters in Switzerland, the two companies held specific and accelerated discussions on joint development options and implementation plans at the Holcim Innovation Centre (HIC), Holcim’s technical research centre in Lyon, France.

Hyundai E&C explained that, as the global construction market is increasingly regulated for carbon emissions, recent construction bids for international ports, tunnels and buildings are requiring quantitative reductions in carbon dioxide generated during the construction and operation phases, or adding requirements for the use of low-carbon construction materials. 

In October 2022, Hyundai E&C became the first listed construction company in Korea to declare its ‘net-zero by 2045’ commitment and unveiled its carbon neutrality implementation strategy through the ‘Global Green One Pioneer: Net Zero by 2045’ report, which details its carbon neutrality vision.

At the same time, to pre-emptively respond to the construction market, which is increasingly regulated for net-zero emissions, Hyundai E&C revealed that it has developed low-carbon construction materials such as concrete and ground reinforcement materials that replace cement with eco-friendly materials, and high-density mortar for reducing inter-floor noise using steel slag, based on its top-notch technology development expertise in Korea, and has aggressively applied them to sites.

Meanwhile, Holcim is also expanding its portfolio of green products, especially in cement and concrete that significantly reduce carbon dioxides generated in the manufacturing process in order to lead the decarbonisation of the construction sector.

An official from Hyundai E&C said, “As the demand for carbon-neutral construction options is expanding in the global construction market, construction materials that can achieve high performance and high quality, as well as low carbon and ecological performance, have emerged as core competitiveness.

“We will enhance our status as a global builder by accelerating the realisation of carbon neutrality and ESG management through technical cooperation with the company leading the development of green, high-value-added construction materials.”

Image: Hyundai E&C