Republic makes green cement

Co-processing is a vital alternative that manufacturing industries can and should take toward the long-term goals of waste management as well as ultimately building our nation’s resilience against climate change

Republic Cement is taking the green mile by helping reduce the country’s waste problems with Ecoloop through reusing waste materials in the manufacture of cement.

With waste as an alternative power source, the cement manufacturer and distributor can reduce its dependence on fossil fuel.

Co-processing has been a sustainable solution to the rise in the country’s waste generation, a major challenge even with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in place.

“Co-processing is a vital alternative that manufacturing industries can and should take toward the long- term goals of waste management as well as ultimately building our nation’s resilience against climate change challenges through sustainable practices,”

Ecoloop Director Angela Edralin-Valencia said.

Recycled waste

Ecoloop utilizes the “cement kiln co- processing method,” where emissions are contained and managed within the kiln and any ash produced fully integrated into the stable microstructure of clinker, a key ingredient of cement.

On the other hand, some forms of incineration are purely for waste disposal without any energy or material recovery aspects.

“There is a higher chance of noxious gases being released into the atmosphere and the ash byproduct usually still ends up in landfills,” Valencia explained.

Co-processing promotes the conservation of non-renewable energy sources and raw materials. The recovered heat content from the qualified wastes partially replaces the heat from traditional fossil fuels such as coal and petcoke.

Managing waste

Recovered minerals similar to the chemical composition of sand and clay also replace raw materials used in cement production.

“In the waste management hierarchy, methods such as prevention, minimization, and recovery of materials through recycling and reusing are still preferred over co-processing. However, when these options are no longer available, co-processing remains preferred over unsustainable methods such as incineration, chemical and physical treatment of waste and landfilling,” Valencia added.

“Republic is proud to do its part in providing a viable waste management solution while continuously working towards a greener and more sustainable cement manufacturing process,” Republic Cement CEO Nabil Francis said. “Through this, we are confident that we are on the right path in moving toward a greener, stronger Republic.”