Fortera and MLC Select Ste. Genevieve, Mo. for First Commercial CO₂-to-Cement Plant
Fortera to launch patented sustainable cement technology, producing 300,000 tons of ReAct® cement annually using carbon captured from MLC's lime production
STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo., Oct. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- Fortera and MLC plan to build Fortera's first commercial low-carbon cement plant at MLC's Ste. Genevieve site. The plant would capture CO₂ emitted by MLC's lime production and transform it into a reactive cement that is nearly 50% captured CO₂ by weight.
The Ste. Genevieve operation was selected due to its scale and strategic location. Situated in the Central Midwest on the Mississippi River, the site enables economical delivery across most of the U.S. and internationally. Adding domestic cement supply also reduces U.S. reliance on foreign imports, which account for 21% of consumption, according to the 2025 U.S. Geological Survey.
ReAct cement is one of the most consequential cement innovations in generations, introducing a fundamentally new way to manufacture an essential building material that meets or exceeds traditional cement's performance.
By transforming captured CO₂ from lime production into value-added cement, this project offers an approach to reduce the carbon footprint of two critical, hard-to-abate industries. Cement accounts for 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (according to the U.S. Department of Energy), so innovations have the potential to meaningfully impact global climate change.
"The Ste. Genevieve plant marks a new era for American cement production, one where technology turns emissions into a high-quality product the market needs while creating lasting local jobs," said Ryan Gilliam, CEO and co-founder of Fortera. "Building alongside the largest lime operation in the Americas lets us turn an existing emissions stream into hundreds of thousands of tons of cement to meet demand that already exists."
This project is also significant for the lime industry because it provides a scalable solution to capture and re-use CO2 released by limestone during calcination, which generates roughly 60% of scope-1 emissions. The National Lime Association (NLA) aims to decarbonize the U.S. lime industry by 2050; meeting that goal requires innovation in low carbon technologies.
"While MLC has reduced our carbon footprint by 8% since 2022, and I am proud of that progress, current technologies will only take us so far. Lime producers need practical solutions to capture calcination emissions," said Paul Hogan, CEO of MLC and current serving president of the NLA. "Fortera has developed an innovative approach that not only reduces the amount of carbon we release -- it also turns it into a valuable product."
The cement manufactured at the Ste. Genevieve plant is planned to be used across the Midwest, including by Ozinga, a fifth-generation, family-owned concrete and building materials company.
"Scaling the next generation of cement requires more than innovative technology; it requires strong partnerships across our industry," said Marty Ozinga, CEO of Ozinga. "Fortera's ongoing work with Ozinga represents the kind of collaboration needed to bring lower-carbon cement solutions to commercial scale while strengthening domestic manufacturing and ensuring we can continue to deliver the performance and reliability our customers expect."
About Fortera
Fortera is revolutionizing the global construction industry. The company's proprietary ReCarb technology integrates seamlessly with existing cement and lime facilities, allowing partners to keep their kilns, make full use of their limestone, and leverage their established distribution networks. Fortera's breakthrough approach transforms waste CO₂ into productive feedstock, enabling plants to produce more from existing resources. The company has proven it can produce cement at cost parity with portland cement while cutting CO₂ emissions by 70%. Fortera operates a 15,000 ton per year facility in Redding, California, regularly placing product in real-world commercial projects, and is executing on a global commercial pipeline that includes the 300,000 ton per year Fortera Cement Plant in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. For more information on how Fortera delivers proven, cost-competitive, and deployable low-carbon cement technology worldwide, visit forteraglobal.com.
About MLC
For over a century, critical industries have relied on Mississippi Lime Company, LLC ("MLC") to provide the highest purity lime and calcium products, backed by the most advanced technical services and patented equipment. Lime solutions from MLC play an essential role in drinking water treatment, pollution control, agriculture, and the production of steel, glass, paper, polymers, raw materials, foods, and beverages. MLC has built its reputation on an unwavering commitment to safety, service and performance. The company's expanding global footprint includes a diversified, reliable network of production and distribution facilities in the U.S. and U.K. MLC is an HBM Holdings company headquartered in St. Louis, Mo.
SOURCE MLC
Media Contact: Spencer Girouard, MLC, [email protected], 636-399-5342; Sherry Chapman, VP Marketing, Fortera, [email protected], 323-287-6619
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