Basalt could be the key to greener and cheaper cement
Cement production is a major but often overlooked source of global carbon emissions, contributing about 4.4% of greenhouse gases. Researchers propose using calcium-rich silicate rocks like basalt instead of limestone to produce Portland cement, which could significantly reduce energy use and emissions. The method is feasible with existing technology and could make cement production cheaper and more sustainable.
- ▪Cement production emits roughly as much CO2 as all the world's passenger cars combined.
- ▪Using basalt instead of limestone could reduce CO2 emissions by over 80% and energy requirements by more than 40%.
- ▪Sufficient basalt deposits exist to supply global cement demand for hundreds of thousands of years.
- ▪The proposed method could also provide feedstock for steel and aluminum production.
- ▪Switching to basalt-based cement could cut emissions by over 25% even without process optimization.
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Image Photo Credit Chaiyaporn1144 vis iStock Cement production is an overlooked source of carbon emissions in public discourse. Science + Technology May 14, 2026 Basalt could be the key to greener and cheaper cement Harrison Tasoff Ideas to reduce carbon emissions often revolve around renewable power, electric vehicles and energy efficiency. But there’s another, less colorful character that’s often overlooked: cement. “Cement barely registers in the public mind as a major driver of climate change, but the CO2 emissions from cement production are similar to all the world’s passenger cars,” said Jeff Prancevic, a geologist at UC Santa Barbara. Overall, the industry accounts for around 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
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