IJmuiden / Paris – May 12, 2026 – Tata Steel IJmuiden (TSIJ) and Ecocem Materials Ltd. (Ecocem) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration on the development and potential use of two next-generation steelmaking slags in low‑carbon cement, mortar, and concrete applications across Europe.
The MoU builds on an existing joint research program and sets out a shared intention to explore new technical, commercial, and regulatory pathways for the valorization of steelmaking slags produced at Tata Steel IJmuiden. Alongside the existing commercial relationship between TSIJ and Ecocem for the valorization of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBS) in cement & concrete, this new collaboration focuses on Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) slag as an alternative cementitious material, alongside the continued development of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag as a supplementary cementitious material.
By replacing clinker — the most carbon-intensive ingredient in cement — with alternative materials such as slag, the cement industry can significantly cut CO₂ emissions while giving industrial by-products a more valuable and circular use.
The aim of the BOF and EAF slags project is to transform these steel industry by-products into cementitious binders or constituents that can support the decarbonisation of cement and concrete production, while advancing circular economy principles. By developing new pathways for the beneficial use of these materials, the collaboration also aims to increase the availability of low-carbon concrete solutions in the market, providing designers, concrete producers, and contractors with a broader range of sustainable material options.
“This Memorandum of Understanding reflects a shared ambition to support the transition to more sustainable construction materials,” said Pieter Roelofsen, Director Strategy, M&A and Partnerships at Tata Steel Nederland. “By exploring innovative applications of steel slag, a condition for the successful delivery of our Green Steel Project, we aim to contribute to circular value chains while supporting the decarbonization of both the steel and cement industries.”
Olivier Guise, Executive Director of Strategy, Technology and Business Development at Ecocem, added: “This type of collaboration has the potential to be transformative for the global cement industry. Together, we are investigating how two underutilised by-products from steel manufacturing could become next-generation alternative cementitious materials, helping reduce emissions while creating value from materials that would otherwise go unused. This is exactly the kind of cross-industry innovation needed to accelerate the transition to a circular, low carbon economy and reshape the future of sustainable construction.”
The signing of this MoU underscores Tata Steel IJmuiden’s and Ecocem’s shared commitment to innovation, circularity, and the development of low-carbon solutions for the building industry.
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Tata Steel Nederland is one of Europe’s largest steel producers and a cornerstone of Dutch industry. Our steel is found in buildings, cars, packaging, and machinery. We have production sites in the Netherlands, the United States, Belgium, Germany, and other parts of Europe. Tata Steel Nederland is part of the global Tata Steel Group—one of the world’s leading steel companies. In the financial year which ended March 31st of 2025, we generated €6.3 billion in revenue.
We are on our way to produce climate neutral steel by 2045. That means cleaner steel, made without coal.
Ecocem is a pioneer of high-performance technology that cuts CO₂ emissions in the cement and construction industries. Its low-carbon cement technology, ACT, can reduce the global carbon footprint of traditional cement production by more than half.
For 25 years, Ecocem has developed and supplied low-carbon cement solutions across Europe. It operates from two plants in France, as well as sites in the Netherlands and Ireland, producing over two million tonnes of low-carbon cement each year.
Ecocem’s technology has supported major infrastructure projects including Le Grand Paris Express, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Village, and the UK’s HS2. To date, it has helped avoid 18 million tonnes of CO₂emissions, equivalent to the annual absorption of over 800 million trees.
Investors include Saint-Gobain Group, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and ArcelorMittal.
An independent company with a world-class innovation centre, Ecocem technology and services can help the cement sector cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and build a more sustainable future.
A major milestone for the commercialisation of low-carbon cements in Europe, the EAD provides regulatory clarity, confirming that Ecocem’s breakthrough ACT technology meets recognised technical requirements for the European construction market.
The centre represents a significant investment in innovation and will play a key role in Ecocem’s strategy to deliver decarbonisation solutions to the cement and concrete industries.
