Uttam Sur, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer, Valency International Pte, discusses cross-border collaboration and innovation essential to scaling sustainable solutions.

As the cement industry accelerates its transition toward low-carbon growth, global commodity trading and cross-border collaboration are emerging as powerful enablers of circular economy practices. Uttam Sur, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer, Valency International Pte, talks about how trading expertise, supply chain traceability, and innovative partnerships are reshaping the sector’s resource loop while aligning with ESG imperatives.

How can global commodity trading expertise support circular economy adoption in cement?
Global commodity trading brings deep market intelligence, logistical efficiency, and access to alternative raw materials. By leveraging trading networks, cement companies can source industrial by-products like fly ash, slag and alternative fuels, which are critical to circular practices. Traders also help navigate regulatory landscapes and ensure consistent quality and supply, enabling cement producers to integrate circular inputs without compromising performance.

What role can supply chain traceability play in enabling circular practices in the sector?
Traceability is foundational to circularity. It ensures that materials—whether recycled, reclaimed or sustainably sourced—meet environmental and social standards. Digital traceability tools allow cement companies to track the origin, lifecycle and carbon footprint of inputs, which supports compliance, transparency and ESG reporting. This also builds trust with stakeholders and enables data-driven decisions for sustainable sourcing.

How can cement companies collaborate with traders to source sustainable raw materials?
Collaboration begins with shared sustainability goals. Cement companies can work with traders to identify low-carbon alternatives, co-develop supplier standards and invest in pre-processing infrastructure. Long-term partnerships can unlock access to circular materials like biomass, construction waste and industrial residues, while also ensuring traceability and quality control across borders.

What lessons from ESG risk mitigation in commodities can be applied to cement operations?
Commodity sectors have advanced ESG risk frameworks that cement companies can adopt—such as supplier audits, grievance mechanisms and third-party certifications. These practices help identify risks related to labour, environment and governance early in the supply chain. Cement operations can benefit by embedding these controls into procurement, logistics and community engagement strategies.

How important is cross-border collaboration for scaling circular economy solutions in cement?
Extremely important. Circular inputs often originate from diverse geographies—industrial
by-products, waste-derived fuels and recycled aggregates are not always locally available. Cross-border collaboration enables access to thes ematerials, harmonises standards and fosters innovation. It also supports policy alignment and investment in shared infrastructure, which is vital for scaling circular solutions.

What are the biggest challenges in aligning cement’s circular initiatives with global ESG standards?
Key challenges include fragmented regulations, inconsistent data and limited supplier capacity. Many circular materials lack standardised ESG metrics, making it difficult to assess their impact. Additionally, aligning local practices with global frameworks like GRI, SASB or TCFD requires capacity building and digital transformation across the value chain.

How can stakeholder engagement across 20+ countries drive innovation in cement circularity?
Engaging stakeholders globally brings diverse perspectives, technologies and policy insights. It enables co-creation of solutions tailored to local contexts—whether it’s waste valorisation in Africa, carbon capture in Europe, or green logistics in Asia. Multi-country engagement also fosters knowledge exchange, accelerates pilot projects and builds resilient supply chains for circular materials.

Which emerging materials or technologies could reshape the resource loop in cement production?
Several innovative materials and technologies are poised to transform the resource loop in
cement manufacturing:
• Carbonated aggregates produced using captured CO2 offer a dual benefit—reducing emissions and enhancing material performance.
• Alkali-activated binders present a low-carbon alternative to traditional cement, utilising industrial by-products like fly ash and slag.
• AI-powered waste sorting systems enable efficient recovery and reuse of high-quality recycled inputs, minimising landfill dependency.
• Blockchain-based traceability platforms ensure transparency and accountability across circular supply chains.