# Holcim Ltd

> Holcim has moved circular construction beyond a broad claim. It reports recycling 8 million tons of construction-demolition materials in 2025, and its ECOCycle label identifies products containing at least 10% such material. The real material decision is site-specific: define the incoming stream, contamination tolerance, processing route and end-product specification before treating a recovered material as usable supply.

- Industry: Building & Infrastructure
- Collection: Active
- Materials: Cement, Minerals
- Processes: Recycling, Sorting
- Evidence through: 2026-09-18
- Canonical URL: https://www.materialtransition.com/library/holcim-ltd

## Material inputs to resolve

Cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete and building solutions

Holcim reported 2025 net sales of CHF 15.7 billion. Its 2025 report says 8 million tons of construction-demolition material were recycled, alternative raw materials represented 14% of cement production inputs, and the company is targeting more than 20 million tons of construction-demolition material by 2030. Public sources do not identify an open site-level feedstock lane or buyer contract.

**CHF 15.7B** 2025 net sales

**8M t** Construction-demolition material recycled in 2025

**14%** Alternative raw materials in cement production inputs

**20M t** 2030 construction-demolition target

- Limestone, clay, gypsum and other cement raw materials
- Construction-demolition material and recovered aggregates
- Fuels, water, electricity, admixtures and mineral additions

### Outputs and residuals to resolve

- Cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete and building solutions
- Recovered construction materials and circular products
- Kiln dust, quarry fines, demolition rejects and process residuals require site-level review

**First decision:** Pick one circular construction hub or cement plant. Match recovered material chemistry, grading, contamination, transport and permit conditions to one product specification.

## Control

Holcim Ltd is the public operating group headquartered in Zug, Switzerland.

#### Product system

The group sells cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete and building solutions, including ECOPact, ECOPlanet and ECOCycle offerings.

#### Circularity evidence

Holcim reports recycling 8 million tons of construction-demolition materials in 2025 and identifies ECOCycle products as containing at least 10% such material.

#### Evidence boundary

The portfolio and aggregate volumes are public. A site-level receiving specification, yield and customer acceptance still need qualification.

### Decision boundary

The public record supports one bounded next move: Pick one circular construction hub or cement plant. Match recovered material chemistry, grading, contamination, transport and permit conditions to one product specification. It does not establish a buyer, commercial approval or supply agreement.

## Material flow map

| Material or stream | Qualification gate | Process or destination | Evidence still needed |
|-|-|-|-|
| Material | Qualification gate | Product route | Evidence still needed |
| Construction-demolition material | Contamination, grading and source | Circular aggregate or blend | Site spec, yield and customer code |
| Alternative raw material | Chemistry, moisture and consistency | Cement raw meal or blend | Dosage, performance and permit |
| Alternative fuel | Calorific value, moisture and emissions | Cement kiln | Trial plan and emissions record |

This is a public screening map. It separates company-disclosed flows from open qualification work. It does not convert a destination into a buyer or an announced ambition into operating capacity.

## Three defensible entry lanes

#### Qualify one circular aggregate lane

The 8 million ton headline is not the same as a buyer-grade product.

**Next evidence:** Select source, hub, grading, contamination limit, code and end market.

#### Move alternative raw material into a blend decision

Chemistry and consistency determine whether a secondary mineral displaces primary input.

**Next evidence:** Compare oxide chemistry, moisture, grind, dosage and cement performance.

#### Map the city-to-hub logistics

Circular construction economics are local because demolition material is heavy and low-value to move.

**Next evidence:** Model source radius, sorting, preprocessing, transport and delivered cost.

## Evidence register

- **Annual Report 2025** Holcim, company report https://www.holcim.com/investors/publications/annual-report-2025 [1]
- **Full year 2025 results** Holcim, company release https://www.holcim.com/media/media-releases/full-year-2025-results [2]
- **Annual report PDF** Holcim, 2025 integrated report https://www.holcim.com/sites/holcim/files/docs/27022026-finance-holcim-fy-2025-report-full-en.pdf [3]
- **Circular construction** Holcim, official ECOCycle and construction-demolition material disclosure https://www.holcim.com/sustainability/circular-construction [4]

Source hierarchy: filings and company disclosures first. The brief states what those sources support and leaves the unresolved plant, grade, permit, buyer and mass-balance questions explicit.

## Material Transition editorial interpretation

The next useful working session starts with: Pick one circular construction hub or cement plant. Match recovered material chemistry, grading, contamination, transport and permit conditions to one product specification.

## Sources

- [1] Annual Report 2025 - https://www.holcim.com/investors/publications/annual-report-2025
- [2] Full year 2025 results - https://www.holcim.com/media/media-releases/full-year-2025-results
- [3] Annual report PDF - https://www.holcim.com/sites/holcim/files/docs/27022026-finance-holcim-fy-2025-report-full-en.pdf
- [4] Circular construction - https://www.holcim.com/sustainability/circular-construction

From the Material Transition company brief library: https://www.materialtransition.com/library/holcim-ltd