FORGING A PATH TO LOW-CARBON SOLUTIONS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
2024/08/05
Low Carbon Concrete
Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete Co. Ltd. King Chung-Jen (center), president of Ya Tung Ready Mixed
Concrete Co., Ltd., and team
Along with the sustainability drive towards net-zero, Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete aspires to establish itself as a model for low-carbon and circular economy practices. The company has diligently pursued and gradually
obtained third-party verification for organizational greenhouse gas inventories, carbon footprints, water footprints, circular economy initiatives, energy management systems, and other international standards. Notably, It has become the first concrete plant in Taiwan to receive certification for carbon footprint labeling, showcasing its commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation.
In March 2022, the National Development Council announced "Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050", mandating that 100% of all new buildings and 85% of existing buildings by 2050 achieve Level 1 or Level 1+ nearly zero carbon emission standards for building energy efficiency. With an unwavering conviction, King Chung-Jen, president of Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete Co., Ltd., states,“Even before this announcement, we had already proactively initiated a series of decarbonization and digital transformation projects, positioning ourselves as a frontrunner in the industry,” King confidently states. As the construction and building sector, accounting for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, seeks solutions for net-zero carbon reduction.
Chairman Kun-Yen Lee (left) and president Chung-Jen King (right) of Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete Co., Ltd
Demonstrating Outstanding R&D Capabilities and Introducing Various Types of Low-Carbon Concrete
King points out that 80% of concrete carbon emissions come from cement. "To reduce cement usage and provide customized low-carbon concrete, we utilize Ya Tung’s proprietary low-carbon product, 'Portland-Limestone Cement,' along with pozzolan substitutes, such as slag, fly ash, and silica fume, as well as special admixtures produced by Oriental Union Chemical Corp." Ya Tung has successfully achieved carbon reduction benefits ranging from 20% to 50%.
Furthermore, over the past three years, Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete has actively introduced a series of high performance concrete (HPC) products that combine carbon reduction benefits with strength specifications. During the transportation process, King emphasizes the importance of reducing the probability of slump loss. Through different proportion designs, this has helped achieve carbon reduction benefits of over 20%. A quarter of carbon emissions in the construction and building industry come from "embodied carbon" generated from material use and construction activities, with approximately 53% coming from ready-mixed
concrete.
Comprehensive Implementation of Sustainable Transformation to Contribute to Achieving Net-Zero Emissions
Despite the expected impact on revenue due to Taiwan's impending carbon tax, King states that Ya Tung Ready
Mixed Concrete has invested tens of millions of NT dollars over the past three years to continuously promote energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and digital transformation processes, aiming to make tangible contributions to achieving net-zero emissions.
For instance, Ya Tung has obtained three major certifications: ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 50001 Energy Management System, and ISO 27001 Information Security Management System. They have also collaborated with Far EasTone Telecommunications to develop the "Quality Management Operation System" app, assisting customers in establishing digital records for low-carbon concrete. King mentions that
starting from January 2025, public procurement projects in Taiwan, numbering 30,000 annually, will be required to
disclose estimated embodied carbon values. Additionally, with transportation accounting for less than 10% of
carbon emissions, Ya Tung has begun replacing high pollution ready-mixed trucks in addition to introducing IoT
management systems, and even plans to purchase electric ones.
Integrating Iot technology, the ready mixed concrete quality management system app can assist customers instantly compile digital resumes of concrete, including quality conditions and carbon emission data. (Image provided by Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete)
Digital transformation is a crucial pathway to sustainability. Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete not only actively implements various digital management systems, but also sends its supervisors and employees to receive professional training in smart manufacturing, AI, and other related fields.
Surpassing Expectations and Taking a Crucial Step Towards a Sustainable Future
It's not just about individual products or systems, however. Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete is pursuing organizational transformation and even expanding its business scope amidst this sustainability trend. Particularly, looking towards the global target of net-zero, the company has partnered with Carbon Cure from Canada to develop mineralization sequestration technology for incorporation into the recycling process. This imbues recycled and residual materials with valuable "carbon sink" properties.
As a result, King states that parent company, Asia Cement Corporation, joined the Global Cement and Concrete
Association (GCCA), aligning with the goals of a 25% reduction in concrete product carbon emissions by 2030
and achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050.