Rethinking Cement with Carbon Capture at the Core: ZS2 Technologies

As published in the SV July 2025 Newsletter

Traditional cement manufacturing is one of the most carbon-intensive industrial processes on the planet. It relies on heating limestone to over 1,400 °C, a step that not only consumes massive amounts of energy but also releases CO₂ directly from the rock itself. The result? For every ton of conventional cement produced, nearly a ton of CO₂ is emitted, making the industry responsible for around 8% of global emissions. 

ZS2 Technologies, based in Calgary, Canada, is taking a radically different approach.

Instead of limestone, ZS2 uses magnesium-rich materials sourced from mining and lithium-extraction byproducts. This eliminates the CO₂ that comes from calcining limestone. But ZS2 goes a step further: they actively capture CO₂ from the air using direct air capture (DAC) units, and then permanently lock that CO₂ into the cement itself, creating a carbon-negative material.

In effect, every panel or product ZS2 produces removes CO₂ from the atmosphere, making their materials carbon-negative, not just low-carbon.

Notable ZS2 Partnerships & Funding:

• Nearly CA$2 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta to develop their first carbon-neutral cement facility in 2023

• CA$2.6 million from Sustainable Development & Technology Canada for DAC development, Feb 2023

• MoU with LithiumBank to implement DAC at the Boardwalk Lithium Brine project and source feedstock

  
  

ZS2’s innovation isn't just about reducing emissions—it’s about reversing them. With strong public support and industry collaboration, they're scaling a model that could transform the future of sustainable construction. As the world seeks more resilient, climate-positive materials, ZS2 proves the next generation of cement isn't just about avoidance—it’s about cleaning up the mess the last one made.