David Bizley, Senior Editor | March 2026
Hello and welcome to the March issue of World Cement.
We have once again packed this special issue with content covering a range of decarbonisation-related topics. This, of course, is partly to tie into the theme of our EnviroTech conference, but also because decarbonisation remains one of the most important issues, and one of the greatest challenges, facing the cement industry.
Despite rhetoric from populist politicians, and some administrations even rolling back environmental regulations, the science remains clear: anthropogenic climate change is not a problem that can be left for ‘tomorrow’, or for future generations to sort out (although a large share of the burden will already fall on them), the impacts are being felt today. It’s not mere coincidence that the 11 warmest years on record also happen to be the last 11 years… Indeed, 2024 was so warm (albeit partly as a result of the El Niño effect) that it broke the 1.5°C threshold for global warming outlined in the Paris Agreement of 2015.
Yes, yes, doom and gloom that you’ve all heard before – sorry. I should know better by now, particularly as if you’re reading World Cement then you’re already likely better informed about the impacts of climate change than most. Actually, you might even be interested to note that there’s a phenomenon known as ‘Psychological Reactance’ with multiple studies showing that too much fearmongering actually turns people away from a message, no matter how urgent the content, particularly when it’s perceived as limiting their personal freedoms. It seems that dealing with climate change is as much a psychological issue as it is an engineering challenge...
Anyway, all of this goes to show just how important it is that the cement industry continues to promote and highlight its successes in decarbonising operations and playing a role in combatting climate change – particularly in such tumultuous, disinformation-riddled times as these. So, how about some good news instead?
Well, first off, this very issue is packed full of ‘good news’ stories covering various successes in the field of decarbonisation. To take just a few examples: Germany’s VDZ explores the role of clinker-efficient cements, and updated standards in promoting the shift towards climate-friendly cement (pg 10); Mannok explores a range of decarbonisation initiatives taking place at their facility in Ireland (pg 18); UNACEM details how challenges with alternative fuels were overcome at their plant in Ecuador (pg 30); and Argos investigates the role of hydrogen in decarbonising cement production (pg 35).
Then of course, we have the fantastic line-up for EnviroTech 2026, featuring dozens of leading cement producers, industry associations, and technical experts from around the world, all sharing updates and valuable insights into their efforts to decarbonise the industry.
Speaking of EnviroTech, if you weren’t able to join us at this year’s show, don’t worry too much as each issue of World Cement will continue to provide coverage of the latest developments from across the cement industry. Finally, if you happen to be reading this whilst joining us in London for EnviroTech 2026, I hope you enjoy the show!
Senior Editor, World Cement
David joined Palladian Publications in early 2012 and is now the Senior Editor of World Cement. As well as the day-to-day editing of content and working with article authors and advertisers, he is actively involved in the commissioning of material for both the magazine and its expanding online presence.
Prior to joining the company, David spent four years at Aberystwyth University where he gained an undergraduate degree in International Politics and a Master’s in Intelligence & Strategic Studies.
David currently lives in Woking, enjoys cycling, rugby and Asian food.