From an early age, I was drawn to science, largely due to my father, a Chemical Engineering Professor. Growing up in an environment surrounded by research and experiments sparked a passion in me that has never faded, leading me to study Chemistry at University and later pursue a PhD in Materials Engineering.
For the past 25 years, I’ve dedicated my career to Research and Innovation, with a specific focus on the formulation and characterization of construction materials and the development of products and solutions for the building industry. I have successfully managed scientific collaborations with Universities worldwide, filed 37 patents, and authored 30 scientific papers. My contributions have led to the development of over seventy products for a range of applications.
At Ecocem, I have found a place to channel my passion into progress for one of the world’s hardest-to-abate sectors.
Since Ecocem was established 25 years ago, our relentless focus has been on cracking cement and concrete’s carbon challenge. Cement accounts for almost 8% of global CO₂ emissions, largely due to emissions released in the manufacture of clinker, the key reactive material in cement and concrete. We have focused on re-formulating binders from first principles—drawing in external expertise, challenging assumptions, and embracing science-led disruption. Our 46-strong Research & Innovation team focuses on developing new low-carbon cements, admixtures, industrial mortars, concretes, and exploring innovative solutions in building chemistry.
In addition, we have academic partnerships with over ten universities around the world, including University of Paris-Saclay, University of Toulouse, Technological University of Munich, University of Toronto, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, University of San Paolo, University of Leuven and Eindhoven, University of Florence and Naples.
Critical to success is the ability to transfer developed innovations to real world applications. Solving a technical challenge is an important the first step, but how we manage the transition from lab to live project is what delivers impact at scale. Examples of our low-carbon solutions in action include in the Grand Paris Express and Olympic Village in Paris, The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and HS2 High-Speed Railway in The UK and The Aviva Stadium in Ireland.
It is this focus that has led to the development of ACT, our breakthrough scalable, low-carbon cement technology that cuts CO2 emissions by up to 70% compared with traditional cement. ACT replaces carbon-intensive clinker – responsible for 90% of CO2 in cement – with alternative Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs).
Excitingly, ACT is well past pilot phase and is now a near-commercial reality. We are aiming for commercial availability in 2026. ACT’s performance has been confirmed in a number of trials. With the support of Innovate UK and in partnership with amongst others Sisk and their client Quintain, we completed a full scale demonstrator project at Wembley Park, where an independent evaluation concluded that ACT not only delivered the required workability, durability, and strength in the range of concretes it was used to make, it reduced the carbon content by over 70%.
ACT trials have also been completed with companies such as Bouygues Construction and Cemex France, with more trials on the horizon. We have also recently announced we will be investing over €170 million in ACT production lines in France.
Looking forward, there is still work to be done. Due to the inconsistent availability of some SCMs, we need to continue to innovate to find other materials that can replace clinker and to deliver the next generation of low-carbon cementitious materials.
As part of this drive, we have been awarded €4 million in EIC Pathfinder research funding to investigate and develop breakthrough Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag. Ultimately, our objective is to enhance the performance of EAF slag as an SCM.
Seeing these innovations develop from idea stage to practical, scalable solutions is extremely motivating. And as much as I enjoy the technical challenge of decarbonising cement, it is the opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future that excites me the most.
Science and innovation are ultimately about curiosity, perseverance, and the belief that even small breakthroughs can drive significant change. For me, innovation is more than a career – it is the thread connecting today’s challenges to tomorrow’s solutions.
By Roberta Alfani, Research and Innovation Director, Ecocem
Following ASTM C1157 certification, screening life cycle assessment validates Ecocem’s pathway to delivering high-performance, low-carbon cement at scale in the U.S. market.
Performance-based certification confirms Ecocem meets US standards and marks global expansion.
