The global company Cemex has introduced an innovative range of bio-based admixtures designed to reduce the CO2 footprint by up to 70%. This new generation of admixtures uses natural, renewable and locally sourced raw materials.​

Admixtures are added to concrete formulations to improve properties such as strength and workability, contributing to a smaller CO2 footprint and supporting sustainable construction practices. Thanks to a special production process, Cemex Admixtures is the first supplier in the industry to achieve these product properties with bio-based raw materials and to also reduce the CO2 footprint in the production of the admixture.

The plasticizers/superplasticizers developed in this way have a CO2 footprint reduced by up to 70% (compared to conventional oil-based admixtures) and reliably adjustable high-performance product properties, suitable for modern cements, concretes, concrete components, and mortars.

These solutions are an important part of Cemex's comprehensive Future in Action strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The strategy aims at providing customers and partners with a comprehensive portfolio of CO2-reduced, efficient solutions that help achieve environmental goals and pave the way towards responsible construction.

The use of these bio-based admixtures has the potential to significantly improve the sustainability balance sheet of various applications:

• Isoplast Bio: A superplasticizer that ensures better workability with the same water content, resulting in a CO2 reduction of up to 10%.
• Isoflex Bio: Plasticizers and superplasticizers that reduce CO2 and water requirements by up to 20-30%.
• Isoflow Bio: High-performance superplasticizer technology that enables ready-mixed concrete manufacturers to reduce water and CO2 contents by up to 50% when developing concrete mix compositions.
• Isomill Bio: Cement grinding aids and additives that provide a significant CO2 reduction of up to 10%, increased process efficiency and higher strength.

The admixtures will be launched in Cemex's markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and will be available in other markets in the coming months. The new product range is part of Cemex's Vertua portfolio, which includes highly sustainable construction solutions.

The bio-based admixtures will enable innovation and pave the way for the construction industry towards sustainable urbanization: they reduce the CO2 footprint, improve the efficiency of production processes, optimize the use of resources (energy, water, raw materials) and increase the performance of materials that promote new construction methods and the construction of smart cities. If even greater environmental efficiency and even lower emissions are desired, these admixtures can be combined with other solutions from Cemex's Vertua concrete range.

Marcelo Catalá, Cemex EMEA VP Urbanization Solutions: "At Cemex, we are constantly innovating to provide new sustainable urbanization solutions and we are determined to set the industry’s benchmark in building sustainable cities. Cemex's new range of bio-based admixtures is an exciting development that leverages locally available raw materials. This not only promotes the circular economy, but also significantly reduces the CO2 footprint thanks to local procurement and local transport of these raw materials. All this is achieved through a special production process. It ensures that this product line exceeds the superior performance expected from our admixtures."