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I by IMD Podcasts
Decarbonization
Holcim’s Ram Muthu: Can circular construction scale?
January 27, 2026 • by Julia Binder, Knut Haanaes in I by IMD Podcasts • 
Podcast available
Holcim’s Ram Muthu on circularity, EU regulation, and what it really takes to decarbonize cement at industrial scale....
Apple SpotifyConstruction is one of the biggest carbon emitters – and cement sits at the center of it. In this episode of Inside the Transition, IMD’s Julia Binder and Knut Haanaes speak with Holcim’s Head of Operational Excellence Ram Muthu about what decarbonization looks like when you’re responsible for heavy equipment, waste streams, and execution across real plants.
Muthu doesn’t romanticize the challenge. He argues the sector can move fast – but only if policy and infrastructure keep up, and if leaders stop treating transformation like a checklist. As he puts it: “Cement and building materials are probably one of the hardest to abate sectors,” “our industry still depends a lot on carbon capture and storage,” and “focus on execution is critical.”
Inside the Transition delivers practical, executive-grade conversations on the energy transition.
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