Leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines relaunched an enhanced innovative road infrastructure cement Solido in Davao City last week.
Holcim Senior Vice President for Infrastructure and Industrial Sales Ram Maganti in an interview said Solido has a less detrimental effect on the environment than ordinary Portland cement (OPC).
“Being a responsible corporate in making the Philippines up to date in terms of sustainability, we launched this product,” Maganti said.
He also said that with Solido Holcim Philippines is offering its customers an option from OPC.
Solido was first introduced in 2018 and became a strong alternative to OPC for road building. Holcim Philippines further improved the product to develop the early strength required for road projects.
Maganti said Holcim Philippines further improved Solido’s formulation to emit less heat when hydrated to prevent thermal cracks that erode a concrete structure’s durability.
Maganti said in Solido they used 70% clinker instead of 90%, which means the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted when they produce Portland cement is lesser and without compromising its performance.
“The cement industry typically uses coal as a source of energy and when you burn coal you are emitting a lot of carbon dioxide. What we do in Davao, Iligan, and across the Philippines is we don’t use coal,” he said.
Maganti said Solido is better for the environment than OPC since it is produced with a lower carbon footprint.
Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Retail Sales Albert Leoveras said Holcim Philippines is collaborating with important stakeholders to promote the use of low-carbon products to lessen its impact on the environment.
Holcim Philippines President and Chief Operating Officer Horia Adrian said the enhanced Solido is aligned with the company’s commitment to creating great value for its customers through innovative building solutions that enable them to deliver high-quality projects.
Adrian said that Solido is part of Holcim Philippines’ accelerating efforts to provide the market with low-carbon building solutions to support sustainable construction.
“Solido being relaunched today is one of our commitments to influence the construction industry in the Philippines to be more sustainable,” said Samuel Manlosa Jr, Chief Sustainability Officer of Holcim Philippines.
