This is a wake-up call: Without any abatement measures from the building materials sector, global demand for concrete – the most widely used material in the world – is projected to generate 3.8 gigatons of CO2 emissions annually by 2050. Cement production—one of concrete’s key components—accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions each year.
The future competitiveness of the global cement industry will hinge on who can reduce their carbon footprint the most. A groundbreaking innovator is reshaping cement production in construction with sustainability leading the charge and now has made its way into our investment portfolio to stay: Say hi to Terra CO2.
Table of Contents
What – does Terra CO2 do?
Simply put: Terra CO2 is a Colorado-based startup that has developed a scalable, low-carbon alternative for cement replacement in concrete.
The American startup produces supplementary cementitious materials and carbon-neutral cement to meet the vast demand, making decarbonized concrete a practical and accessible solution for the construction industry. Terra CO2 offers 2 standout products:
- OPUS SCM: An engineered Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) that can be locally produced to address the fly ash shortage. It is derived from plentiful, cost-effective silicate rock feedstock and can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70% when partly replacing clinker or other conventional cementitious materials.
- Next Gen OPUS ZERO: This visionary product is a full substitute for clinker, resulting in true zero CO2 emissions. It is an advanced cement based on proven inorganic polymer chemistry—a game-changer for the ready-mix industry.
Why – Cemex commits investment in Terra CO2?
As the open innovation arm of Cemex, we are dedicated to actively identifying high-potential startups focused on advancing green construction and driving sustainability within the sector. With a strong emphasis on decarbonizing the built environment, promoting circular economy principles, and integrating renewable energy solutions, Cemex Ventures is eager to collaborate with startups that align with these objectives. Terra CO2 stands out as an ideal partner, thanks to its CCUS technology, which plays a critical role in accelerating Cemex’s decarbonization initiatives.
In simple terms, Cemex is partnering with Terra CO2 to cost-effectively reduce harmful emissions from its production processes, driving the construction industry’s progress towards CO2 neutrality.
So, let’s dive a little bit deeper…
How – will Terra CO2 and Cemex help each other achieve their objectives?
In this partnership, Cemex aims to integrate Terra CO2’s solutions across its operations in the Americas and Europe, helping it fulfill its mission of becoming the global leader in carbon reduction within the global construction materials industry. This agreement seeks to help Terra CO2 with the following benefits:
- Tactical investment: The startup gains smart capital to support its continued development.
- Partner for one of the world’s top construction firms: Cemex Ventures aims to accelerate the growth of the American startup by linking it with Cemex’s vast network and resources, creating synergies, and promoting startup-corporate collaboration.
- Expertise & specialized knowledge: Leveraging Cemex Ventures’ expertise in progress strategies and the construction industry expertise of Cemex.
That said, this collaboration is a two-way street: Terra CO2’s technology could help position Cemex as a leader in cutting emissions within the construction industry. This partnership also strengthens Cemex’s ambitious climate action goals outlined in its sustainability program, Future in Action, which aims to reduce Cemex’s greenhouse gas emissions generated by its production processes, through its Innovation & Partnerships pillar.
Who – is Terra CO2?
Founded in 2016, Terra CO2 Technologies is a disruptive startup dedicated to producing sustainable alternatives for cement replacement. Based in Golden, Colorado, United States, Terra CO2 is at the forefront of the Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS) industry, leading efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in hard-to-abate sectors such as mining and construction.
Interesting facts: In 2024, Terra CO2 was granted by the United States Department of Energy (DoE) for the deployment of its clean technology in Utah, United States. That same year, it was named the winner of the “Decarbonization Solution of the Year” award at the inaugural Cleantech Breakthrough Awards program.
Terra CO2’s team is a group of experts dedicated to deeply decarbonizing the concrete industry, consisting of diverse professional profiles, including scientists, engineers, geologists, plant operators, and more.
What is their mission? Their mission is to revolutionize cement production and decarbonize concrete, aiming for zero clinker and, ultimately, zero CO2 emissions.
What’s next?
As with all our portfolio companies, we’ll keep you informed with all the latest news about Terra CO2 through our digital channels: blog, social media: LinkedIn & X, and our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter.
But if you’re an entrepreneur with an innovative solution that’s addressing critical pain points in green construction (water efficiency, waste management, CCUS, sustainable materials, alternative fuels, and more!), we invite you to contact us!
Press Release
Madrid, Spain. March 25, 2025. Cemex announced today its most recent investment in climate-friendly & zero carbon cement company, Terra CO2, carried out through its corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit, Cemex Ventures. Concrete is the world’s second most used material, next to water. The production of cement—a key component of concrete—is responsible for a significant share of global CO2 emissions annually, thus reducing related emissions in its production process is a critical climate priority for the building sector.
Terra CO2, an American-based company, produces supplementary cementitious materials and carbon-neutral cement that are scalable to meet the massive demand, making decarbonized concrete a practical and affordable solution for the construction industry. Terra’s first product, OPUS SCM™, is an engineered Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) made from abundant and cost-effective silicate rock feedstock, capable of reducing up to 70% CO2 emissions when partially replacing clinker or other traditional cementitious products. Their second product is OPUS ZERO™, a 100% cement replacement solution now in full concrete trials. The breakthrough company was granted additional support in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), for the deployment of its clean technology.
“Our path to carbon neutrality is stronger than ever. Terra CO2 has emerged as one of the most relevant technologies in today’s market for reducing the carbon footprint at a competitive cost, making it the ideal partner for Cemex,” said Alfredo Carrato, Investment and Open Innovation at Cemex Ventures. “We are thrilled to highlight the synergy with this high-potential Cleantech solution validated by key industry players, as we continue driving the revolution in construction and leading it toward a more sustainable future.”
“Having one of the world’s leading cement producers invest in Terra CO2 validates our technology and its role in decarbonizing the industry,” said Bill Yearsley, CEO of Terra CO2. “Our approach has always been that to achieve decarbonization of cement; we need to create solutions that work as seamlessly as possible within the existing industry infrastructure. We look forward to working alongside Cemex to integrate sustainable solutions that do not disrupt our industry.”
Following this initial investment, Cemex aims to integrate Terra CO2’s portfolio of solutions across its operations in the Americas and Europe, positioning the global building materials company as a leader in carbon reduction within the building materials industry. The American startup aims to help Cemex reduce its Scope 1 CO2 emissions, targeting the direct greenhouse gas emissions generated by its production processes. This investment bolsters the ambitious climate action goals set out by Cemex’s sustainability and decarbonization program, Future in Action, through its Innovation & Partnerships pillar.
About Terra CO2
Terra is the standard for cement decarbonization. We enable our partners to unlock real zero cement from source to deployment. As the critical component in creating concrete, the foundation of modern infrastructure, cement is responsible for 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The CO2 and NOx emissions associated with cement make finding an alternative to current solutions a climate imperative.
Unique to Terra CO2 is their capability to work across a diverse range of silicate rock mineralogy, not constrained by feedstock availability. Terra’s technology allows the company to create sustainable construction materials with the most abundant and accessible raw materials on earth from already approved and open mines.
Terra’s first product, OPUS SCM (Supplementary Cementitious Material), is ready for commercial deployment, capable of replacing up to 50% OPC (Original Portland Cement) and solving the industry’s carbon emissions and dwindling feedstock challenges. Terra’s OPUS ZERO™, a complete, real zero cement alternative, is in full concrete trials. Both leverage Terra’s “drop-in” reactor solution, which seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure and sets the foundation for the transition to real zero cement.
Validated by third parties, Terra’s materials perform equal to or better than traditional cementitious products.
Terra CO2 is headquartered in Golden, Colorado, and is led by a team of industry experts. For more information, please visit: https://terraco2.com/
About Cemex Ventures
Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com
About Cemex
Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com
Communications – Cemex Ventures
Paloma Hernández
+34 647 38 34 76
paloma.hernandez@cemexventures.com
Media Relations – Cemex
Jorge Pérez
+52 (81) 8259-6666
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Cemex Ventures BV is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. Except as the context otherwise may require, references in this press release to “Cemex,” ”we,” ”us,” ”our,” refer to Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) and its consolidated subsidiaries. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Cemex intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect Cemex’s current expectations and projections about future events based on Cemex’s knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as Cemex’s current plans based on such facts and circumstances, unless otherwise indicated. These statements necessarily involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Cemex’s expectations, including, among others, risks, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed in Cemex’s most recent annual report and detailed from time to time in Cemex’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores), which factors are incorporated herein by reference, which if materialized could ultimately lead to Cemex’s expectations, expected results, and/or the investment and projects referred herein not producing the expected benefits and/or results. Cemex assumes that the startups referenced in the list referred to in this press release have the rights to their corresponding projects. Cemex is not responsible for any ownership or rights issues that any startup may have with respect to their corresponding project. Forward-looking statements should not be considered guarantees of future performance, nor the results or developments are indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. These factors may be revised or supplemented, and the information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice, but Cemex is not under, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or correct this press release or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. Any or all of Cemex’s forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate. Accordingly, undue reliance on forward-looking statements should not be placed, as such forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The content of this press release is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Cemex is not responsible for any third-party information referenced in this press release.
There is currently no single globally recognized or accepted, consistent, and comparable set of definitions or standards (legal, regulatory, or otherwise) of, nor widespread cross-market consensus i) as to what constitutes, a ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or having equivalent-labeled activity, product, or asset; or ii) as to what precise attributes are required for a particular activity, product, or asset to be defined as ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or such other equivalent label; or iii) as to climate and sustainable funding and financing activities and their classification and reporting. Therefore, there is little certainty, and no assurance or representation is given that such activities and/or reporting of those activities will meet any present or future expectations or requirements for describing or classifying funding and financing activities as ‘green’, ‘social’, or ‘sustainable’ or attributing similar labels. We expect policies, regulatory requirements, standards, and definitions to be developed and continuously evolve over time.
