Work begins on historic commercial carbon cement plant

Key Takeaways:

• Canada’s first commercial carbon capture cement facility is under construction in Mississauga, aiming to reduce emissions by converting CO₂ from cement production into low-carbon cement materials.
• The project, led by Carbon Upcycling and Ash Grove, will produce up to 30,000 tonnes of supplementary cementitious materials annually once operational in 2026.
• Supported by $10 million in federal funding, the initiative reflects a growing push for clean manufacturing and is expected to generate skilled jobs in the region.

The Whole Story:

A first-of-its-kind carbon capture and utilization facility aimed at decarbonizing cement production has officially broken ground in Mississauga, marking a major milestone for Canada’s clean manufacturing sector.

Carbon Upcycling Technologies and Ash Grove, a subsidiary of global construction giant CRH, are partnering on the $10-million Carbon 1 Mississauga project. The facility will be the first in Canada to use carbon dioxide captured from a cement kiln to produce low-carbon supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) at commercial scale.

Set to begin operations in 2026, the plant is expected to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of SCMs annually. The material will be made by injecting captured CO₂ into local industrial byproducts, reducing emissions while strengthening domestic cement supply chains.

“This project signals a breakthrough in how we decarbonize one of the world’s most essential industries,” said Serge Schmidt, president of Ash Grove. “We’re proud to build it in Canada, using homegrown talent, partnerships and purpose-driven innovation.”

The federal government is supporting the project with funding through three programs: the Low Carbon Economy Fund, the National Research Council’s IRAP program, and the Sustainable Manufacturing Program under Next Generation Manufacturing Canada.

“Clean technology, including carbon capture, will play an integral role in our efforts to decarbonize,” said Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “Projects such as this one present significant economic opportunity for Canadian industry.”

The facility is expected to create permanent skilled jobs in the region, with additional employment during construction.

Carbon Upcycling CEO Apoorv Sinha said the facility reflects a broader shift toward circular, low-carbon solutions for heavy industry.

“With this project, we’re setting the precedent for a new way forward—one that aligns community, industry and climate,” he said.

Carbon 1 Mississauga is being developed in partnership with CRH Ventures, the venture capital arm of CRH, which has invested in Carbon Upcycling. The startup is also backed by investors including the Business Development Bank of Canada and several major global cement companies.

Ash Grove operates 12 cement plants and more than 40 terminals across North America.