Meta backs low-carbon cement to curb data centre construction emissions

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Meta backs low-carbon cement

Highlights

Meta agreed to buy certificates representing 180,000 tonnes of low-carbon cement from Sublime Systems to support its U.S. data centre expansion emissions reduction strategy.
Sublime's cement process cuts CO2 emissions by 70–80 percent versus conventional cement, targets $160–$180 per tonne costs, and requires $600 million–$700 million initial plant investment.
Environmental Attribute Certificates used in the deal are controversial due to double-counting risk, but Meta and Sublime argue they help finance commercial-scale low-carbon cement production.

Certificate deal supports new cement capacity

As reported by Financial Times, Meta has agreed to buy the equivalent of 180,000 tonnes of cement from Sublime Systems through Environmental Attribute Certificates, a mechanism intended to support construction of the start-up’s planned U.S. plant rather than deliver physical material immediately.

The agreement is part of Meta’s effort to reduce emissions tied to its data centre expansion. Devon Lake, head of net zero strategy at Meta, says cement is among the hardest parts of the company’s infrastructure footprint to address, and that meeting its climate goals requires bringing lower-carbon materials to market.

Sublime plans to make cement through an electrochemical process using calcium silicate rock instead of the traditional limestone-based production route, which typically requires heating material to about 1,450C. The company says its process generates 70 per cent to 80 per cent less CO2 than conventional cement, while matching strength and remaining price-competitive at about $160 to $180 per tonne.

For each tonne of cement Sublime produces, one certificate is created for Meta. The technology group can also buy physical cement if Sublime eventually builds a factory close enough to its data centres.

Construction emissions draw more scrutiny

The deal underscores increasing scrutiny of emissions from data centre construction as the U.S. technology sector races to expand AI infrastructure. While electricity use has drawn most public attention, materials such as cement and steel also create significant embedded emissions.

The cement industry accounts for roughly 7 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, reflecting both fossil fuels used in kilns and the CO2 released when limestone is turned into clinker. The U.S., meanwhile, imports 22 per cent of its cement needs, and its domestic fleet of cement plants has an average age of 36 years, close to the 40-year replacement age cited in the article.

Environmental Attribute Certificates remain contested because they let companies claim emissions reductions achieved by manufacturers even when the buyer does not use the physical material. Critics say that can create risks of double counting and greenwashing, while supporters argue the model helps finance early-stage production when geography and limited commercial scale constrain direct purchases.

Sublime rejects the idea that the arrangement amounts to greenwashing. Cory Waltrip, vice-president of business development and strategy at Sublime, says the deal helps fund genuinely lower-carbon cement production, while Meta says the certificates complement rather than replace direct supply-chain emissions reductions.

Sublime is developing its first commercial plant and is working with CRH, Amrize and Holcim on siting, engineering and construction. The initial facility is expected to cost $600 million to $700 million and produce 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes before scaling to 1 million tonnes a year, though the company still needs to prove its process at commercial scale and manage exposure to volatile electricity costs.

Meta’s agreement follows Microsoft’s deal in May 2025 to buy certificates covering up to 622,500 tonnes of low-carbon cement over six to nine years. Sublime sees the fast-growing U.S. data centre market as an early customer base, but says its long-term growth depends on broader adoption across construction, including schools, hospitals and road building.

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