The collaboration focuses on replacing the proportion of cement in concrete production with a new type of cement replacement product (Supplementary Cementitious Materials), initially primarily consisting of slag from Boliden's copper production. Skanska's role is to test and apply Boliden's SCM product in selected construction projects to ensure that the product can be used within existing regulations and on a larger scale.
"We have a unique opportunity to let our experts fully test the product through our factories and under real conditions in projects where we can see how it behaves over time. We are pleased to collaborate with Boliden to drive sustainable development in the construction industry forward," says Sara Löfgren, Regional Manager Concrete, Skanska.
Compared to traditional concrete production, Boliden's new product means that the climate impact can be reduced by approximately 95 percent for each portion of regular cement that is replaced. The technology also enables better metal recovery for the mining and metals company.
"Cement accounts for a large part of global carbon dioxide emissions, which of course makes the industry keen to find new, alternative products without compromising on quality. With our SCM product, we offer a very energy-efficient way to reduce society's climate impact. And to drive the industry's transition, and the work towards standardizing the product, we need ambitious collaborations with leading players. Which we truly get with Skanska," concludes Åke Roos, Program Manager at Boliden.
The collaboration between Boliden and Skanska will begin in the first quarter of 2025.