# Reinventing Cement: The Breakthrough That Could Cut 8% of Global Emissions with Greg Williams

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2025-03-27
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 75
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/4n92p2r8-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-greg-williams

## Summary

Greg Williams, VP of Product at Sublime Systems, explains how the company uses an electrochemical process to produce low-carbon cement, eliminating the fossil-fueled kilns and limestone decomposition emissions that account for 8% of global CO2 output. He details Sublime's strategy to achieve cost parity with Portland cement through economies of scale and technology improvements, while partnering with industry giants like Holcim and CRH to accelerate deployment. Williams also discusses the 'book and claim' model, exemplified by a deal with Microsoft, which allows customers to purchase environmental attributes separately from the physical product to offset Scope 3 emissions.

## Chapters

- [0:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=44) Introduction and Guest Background
- [8:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=490) The Carbon Problem in Cement Production
- [13:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=823) Sublime's Electrochemical Process
- [15:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=948) Drop-in Replacement and Industry Standards
- [19:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=1166) Scaling Strategy and Plant Construction
- [23:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=1433) Early Pilots and Field Testing
- [29:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=1756) Partnerships with Holcim and CRH
- [34:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=2053) Book and Claim Model and Microsoft Deal
- [39:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr#t=2356) Energy Sourcing and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Holcim (company)
- CRH (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- ZeroAVIA (company)
- Synapse (company)
- Department of Energy (company)
- Rocky Mountain Institute (company)
- Kindred (company)
- Apple (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Fixing cement’s carbon problem](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-11-17-fixing-cements-carbon-problem) (Catalyst)
- [The complex path to market for low-carbon cement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-10-17-the-complex-path-to-market-for-low-carbon-cement) (Catalyst)
- [Literally unearthing a climate solution with Cody Finke of Brimstone](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone) (How I Built This)
- [Scaling low-carbon products with book and claim systems](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-12-19-scaling-low-carbon-products-with-book-and-claim-systems) (Catalyst)
- [Building a decarbonization army with Shashank Samala of Heirloom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-08-building-a-decarbonization-army-with-shashank-samala-of-heirloom) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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