[ECO]Boston’s Building by Sublime Systems Features the World’s First Fossil-Fuel-Free Cement

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The first commercial use of Sublime Systems’ fossil-fuel-free cement is in a Boston building, marking a major milestone in sustainable construction.

In downtown Boston, a newly constructed building is home to a groundbreaking innovation in the cement industry. Near the entrance of the building, a bronze plaque embedded in the concrete floor reads: “This floor is the first commercial use of Sublime Systems’ cement made with a fossil-fuel-free cement manufacturing process. A step on this floor is a step closer to our post-carbon future.” The company behind this achievement, Sublime Systems, has developed the world’s first cement manufacturing process that eliminates fossil fuel use—offering a promising solution to the cement industry’s significant

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Cement production, a cornerstone of modern construction, has long been a major source of global carbon emissions. Traditional cement, made from Portland cement, is produced by heating limestone in large kilns to around 2,500°F, a process that releases carbon dioxide both from the fuel burned and as a natural byproduct of the limestone. This process alone accounts for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions, more than the aviation industry, which contributes around 2%.

Sublime Systems, founded in 2020 by Leah Ellis and Yet-Ming Chiang, has developed an alternative that uses electrochemistry to break down calcium silicate—essentially replacing the need for the high-temperature firing process with electricity. The company’s pilot plant, located in Somerville, Massachusetts, just four miles from the downtown Boston project, has proven that it is possible to make cement without emitting carbon dioxide. The company’s cement also meets all the same strength, durability, and performance standards as traditional Portland cement without relying on carbon capture and

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Leah Ellis, the company’s CEO and co-founder, described the innovation as “magic” when explaining the electrochemical process during a visit to the plant. A former battery scientist and Tesla intern, Ellis combined her scientific background with her passion for sustainability to create Sublime Systems. “Concrete is so big in our environment that it’s invisible, like the air you breathe,” Ellis said. This perception of concrete’s ubiquity drives the urgency behind Sublime’s goal: making the invisible—cement—more sustainable and reducing its carbon footprint.

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Sublime’s pilot plant manufactures small batches of cement, which have been used in several commercial projects. In the downtown Boston building, Sublime’s cement was applied to a few key areas, including the lobby and sidewalk. The cement is a lighter shade of gray than traditional concrete, an aesthetic result of the company’s cleaner manufacturing process, and represents a visible step toward a post-carbon future.

While Sublime Systems’ cement is still in its early commercial use phase, the company is expanding rapidly. The next step in scaling up production is a new commercial-scale plant slated to open in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 2026. This facility, supported by a $87 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, will allow Sublime to produce tens of thousands of tons of carbon-free cement annually.

However, as of now, Sublime Systems’ capacity to fulfill commercial orders is limited. Despite strong demand, including interest from large construction projects, the company has been able to produce only small quantities of cement. This limitation is not due to a lack of interest in sustainable building materials but rather the need for additional production space to meet growing demand. The plant in Holyoke is expected to alleviate this constraint and enable Sublime to ramp up its output significantly.

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Sublime Systems’ method relies on electrochemical reactions that break down calcium silicate at room temperature rather than relying on fossil fuel combustion. Photo by Braeson Holland on Pexels

Sublime Systems’ innovative approach is part of a broader push to decarbonize the cement industry, an effort that has gained traction among researchers and startups. Several companies are working to create low-carbon or carbon-neutral alternatives, but Sublime has emerged as a leader by offering a fully decarbonized manufacturing process, free from the use of fossil fuels.

The company’s method relies on

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that break down calcium silicate at room temperature rather than relying on fossil fuel combustion. This shift could revolutionize the cement industry and contribute to global emissions reductions, which will be necessary to meet climate goals. As Ellis noted, when people think of clean technologies, they often think of wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, but cement also plays a crucial role in the transition to a post-carbon world.

Sublime’s research and development efforts continue to push the boundaries of cement innovation. In the pilot plant, scientists test new formulations to improve the flow and strength of the cement. They experiment with adjusting ingredients and refining the manufacturing process to perfect the material for a wide range of uses. Although the company’s primary focus has been on cement, they are also exploring the production of mortar, an essential building material made from cement.

The small team of scientists and engineers at Sublime, including graduate school graduates like Summer Camerlo-Bass and Michael Sheahan, are part of a growing movement within the cement and construction industries to make building materials more sustainable. Many of these young professionals were drawn to Sublime by the desire to work on solutions that address climate change. Camerlo-Bass, for example, had initially worked with classmates who pursued careers in industries like aerospace and petroleum but chose to contribute to more sustainable endeavors instead.

Sublime Systems’ work is part of an emerging wave of climate-focused startups that aim to address

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. By reducing the carbon emissions associated with cement production, the company is not only contributing to sustainability but also positioning itself as a leader in the green building materials market.

The introduction of carbon-free cement into commercial use represents a major step toward transforming an industry that has long been a major contributor to global emissions. As Sublime Systems’ production capacity increases, its impact on the environment could become significant. The company’s success could encourage others in the construction industry to adopt cleaner alternatives, making a considerable dent in global carbon emissions in the process.

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