Circular economy in the cement industry: A systematic review of sustainability assessment and justice considerations in local community development.
This case study provides a comprehensive review of how circular economy (CE) practices are reshaping the cement industry. The authors highlight the dual role of cement: while it drives local economic growth through job creation and infrastructure, it simultaneously poses environmental and health risks. Cement production, which releases vast quantities of CO2 during clinker production, is projected to emit 3.8 billion tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050, up from 2.7 billion tonnes in 2024 if no corrective measures are taken.
The study adopted a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database, ultimately selecting 197 documents that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed a steep rise in academic attention, with an annual publication growth rate of 23.41 per cent and an average citation rate of 26.04 per document, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability and circular economy in cement research. Regionally, Europe accounted for 52 per cent of publications, Asia 28 per cent, and the Americas 14 per cent, while Africa and Australia together made up the remaining 6 per cent, underscoring disparities in global research engagement.
From a practical standpoint, the review identified key CE strategies including clinker substitution with supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), urban mining of construction and demolition waste (CDW), and adoption of alternative fuels like biomass and waste tires. For example, Shah et al. demonstrated that SCM substitution could have avoided over 1.3 gigatons of CO2-equivalent emissions in 2018. Companies such as Holcim (via Geocycle) and HeidelbergCement are actively implementing waste valorisation and urban mining initiatives, while Cementos Argos and Dangote Cement are using waste-derived fuels such as plastics and palm kernel shells. These practices reduce reliance on virgin materials and fossil fuels, driving both environmental and economic efficiency.
Beyond technical measures, the study stresses the need to integrate social and environmental justice into CE adoption. Communities near cement plants often face disproportionate exposure to air pollution, water contamination and degraded land. Research cited shows that at least 1,000 species worldwide are at risk due to quarrying for construction minerals. Moreover, children and low-income groups are the most vulnerable to pollution impacts, including higher risks of respiratory illnesses. The authors argue that embedding justice considerations into life cycle sustainability assessments (LCSA), including tools like the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and frameworks such as Just Transition and Doughnut Economics, is essential for ensuring equitable and sustainable outcomes.
About the authors:
Susan K. Onsongo (writing – original draft, conceptualisation, methodology, investigation, formal analysis, data curation)
John Olukuru (writing – review and editing, supervision)
Onesmus Mwabonj (conceptualisation, resources, supervision, writing – review and editing)
*Published in Circular Economy and Sustainability (Springer Nature, Open Access journal) Dated: May 2025
