Philippines: Holcim Philippines has launched ECOPlanet, a slag cement product. It will promote the cement as a general purpose blend for structural applications. It will be made available in 40kg bags in paper and plastic bags. The Philippines will be among the first markets where ECOPlanet is available. The subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim also intends to obtain an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the product in the next few months, as well as launching a plastic bag recycling scheme related to the product.

India: Tata Steel has begun the export of Linz-Donawitz (LD) slag from its steel production processes to Bangladesh. The United News of India has reported that a Bangladeshi cement producer has purchased the material for use in its cement production. China-based cement shipping company Cemcoa will deliver the slag.

Chief operating officer Subodh Pandey said that Tata Steel continually pursues operational and market-facing innovations by creating value out of its by-products, as part of its quest to a sustainable future. It has achieved 100% granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), fly ash and LD slag recycling.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has signed a contact with Réunion-based retailer Ravate Group, under which the latter will stock its H-Iona slag cement in its shops in Réunion, Mauritius and Mayotte until 2025.The producer says that the first deliveries will follow in late 2021.

Owners Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said “Providing professionals and the general public with the possibility of buying very low-carbon cement, and thus of helping fight global warming, is a source of great pride for Hoffmann. We are delighted to have signed this first H-Iona distribution contract with Ravate Group, an independent family-run business with which we share many values such as innovation and respecting the environment. This partnership will allow us to increase our current order book and generate deliveries of bags of cement from 2021. We intend to sign more partnership deals of this type in order to be able to supply H-IONA and its exceptional benefits, notably environmental benefits, to as many people as possible.”Ravate Group operates over 40 outlets.

UK: Hanson has delivered its 10,000th load of Regen ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) from its Port Talbotsite in Neath Port Talbot to the building site of the upcoming Hinkley Point C power plant in Somerset. The GGBFS will be used in concrete production there. The latest batch brings the company’s total deliveries to the project to over 230,000t of GGBFS.

Head of nuclear operations Stewart Cameron said “Around 200,000t of CO₂ has been saved in reaching this milestone Regen GGBS load. It is a credit to all those involved as we continue to meet the standards expected of this high-profile project.”