Concrete 2.0 brings returns to your portfolio – Holcim, Cemex, Argo Graphene Solutions

Holcim and Cemex combine sustainability with strong returns

When it comes to improving construction efficiency and reducing costs, companies like Holcim are leading the way. Holcim has more than 48,000 employees and operates in 45 countries. However, its core business of cement, concrete, and aggregates is changing – Holcim itself has mandated a strategic shift toward greater sustainability. Specifically, the Company is focusing on CO2 capture for the decarbonization of cement production and expanding recycling efforts. In northern Germany, a Holcim cement plant with oxyfuel technology is also being built, which will capture almost all CO2 emissions. Holcim is also focusing on eco-friendly building materials such as ECOPact CO2-reduced concrete and ECOPlanet cement. Demand for these building materials is growing faster than that for conventional concrete and cement: In the first half of 2025, 31% of ready-mixed concrete revenue came from ECOPact and 35% of cement revenue came from ECOPlanet - up from 25% and 32% in 2024. Holcim CEO Miljan Gutović emphasized the growing importance of this trend in the latest balance sheet presentation. In addition, Holcim is able to increase its margins through higher-quality products: in 2025, recurring EBIT grew by double digits despite only slightly higher revenue. Analysts have taken notice, increasingly praising Holcim's commitment to sustainable building materials.

The Mexican cement giant Cemex is also prioritizing sustainability, with the goal of having 50% of its product portfolio consist of sustainable materials by 2025. Its ESG-focused product line, Vertua, reduces CO2 emissions by at least 25% without compromising on quality. Analysts and rating agencies are celebrating the development at Cemex – for building material manufacturers, sustainability and returns go hand in hand.

Argo Graphene Solutions aims for a breakthrough with graphene

While Holcim and Cemex had to undergo strategic shifts due to their traditional structures to make their products more CO2-neutral,Canadian company Argo Graphene Solutions can drive innovation without legacy issues or path dependencies. The start-up is developing novel graphene additives for concrete, cement, and asphalt, making them stronger and more climate-friendly. Instead of operating its own concrete plants, Argo focuses on partnerships with established building material manufacturers. License agreements and joint ventures with industry giants are a key part of the expansion strategy - allowing Argo to scale quickly with limited capital investment and secure market share.

Recent studies that have examined graphene as an additive in building materials in more detail show that this could be successful. As reported by the news magazine Focus, even small amounts of graphene oxide in the cement mix work wonders: the concrete becomes significantly more pressure- and tensile-resistant, withstands moisture better and ages more slowly. This enhanced performance means that, with the same stability, the cement content can be reduced by up to 50%, saving around 446 kg of CO2 per ton of concrete. In addition, graphene can make concrete "smart": thanks to its electrical conductivity, embedded particles can detect cracks at an early stage, enabling predictive maintenance. "Achieve more with less material – and reduce CO₂ in the process," is how Focus Online** sums up the advantages of graphene enhanced concrete.

First concrete order, asphalt in the starting blocks – Valuation only at CAD 15 million

Argo Graphene Solutions has already made great strides in recent months. In June, Ceylon Graphene Technologies from Sri Lanka ordered 1,000 kg of graphene oxide paste from Argo. This delivery alone can be used to produce around 50 tons of liquid dispersion, which in turn can be mixed into concrete. "This order is a crucial milestone for us," says Argo CEO Scott Smale. For the CEO, it paves the way for a long-term partnership to meet the growing global demand for high-purity graphene for concrete and asphalt. In addition, Argo is also working with Graphene Leaders Canada to develop an optimized graphene nanoplatlet additive for ready-mix concrete and graphene-reinforced asphalt. Argo expects to see initial concrete results by fall 2025.

For investors, Argo Graphene Solutions is an exciting small-cap with the potential to disrupt the building materials industry. The Company is still small, with a market capitalization of only around CAD 15 million. However, given the dynamic growth of the market for green building materials and the global backlog of infrastructure renovation, the signs for further growth are good. Argo has already attracted the attention of speculative investors on the stock market. If further orders follow and the Company succeeds in creating added value in the asphalt sector, Argo Graphene Solutions shares could be poised for a bright future.