Lafarge converts GU cement plant into eco-efficient alternative

MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—Lafarge’s Bath Cement Plant, located near Kingston, Ont. is fully converting its production of general use cement (GU) to reduced carbon portland limestone cement, branded as OneCem, the company’s eco-efficient alternative.

For the last few years, Lafarge has been working towards full conversion to OneCem, a sustainable product that presents significantly less CO2 emissions while providing the same performance and durability, indicates a release.

OneCem contributes to lowering the industry’s carbon footprint not only during the manufacturing process. While cement typically represents only 11 per cent of a concrete mix, it can account for more than 80 per cent of all energy required to produce concrete.

Across Canada, Lafarge has produced over six million metric tonnes of OneCem since 2011, reducing the carbon footprint in the built environment and community.

“At the Bath Plant, we are excited to increase our OneCem production and to provide our customers with this sustainable product, so that every project they build with our product can have a smaller carbon footprint,” said Bath Cement plant manager Ignacio Arroyo in a statement.

“We have had a successful partnership with Lafarge Canada for almost 30 years now – Toronto Redi-mix’s full transition from GU to OneCem has been very smooth,” added Guido Cosentini, general manager at Toronto Redi-mix, in a statement. “The product has presented great results right from the beginning – the performance and quality have been identical to standard cement. For us, the main benefit is certainly the sustainable aspect of OneCem.”