Review on technical pathways and assessment for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in China’s building materials industry

The building materials industry ranks among China’s most challenging sectors for carbon emission reduction, and achieving its carbon peak and neutrality is critical to advancing the national “dual-carbon strategy”. This study systematically reviews the development status and challenges of carbon reduction technology pathways in this industry, with a particular focus on cement sector, from a technological, economic, and environmental perspective, aiming to provide a holistic understanding of current landscapes and future prospects. Key technology pathways analyzed include energy efficiency improvement, clinker factor reduction, raw/fuel materials substitution, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), “low-carbon+digital” operational transformation, development of new functional additives, and green intelligent construction technologies (e.g., 3D printing). Assessments reveal that while some pathways hold significant carbon reduction potential, they face core barriers such as high initial investment, immature industrial chains, low market acceptance, and limited material performance. Moving forward, policy incentives, business model innovation, and AI empowerment are expected to accelerate large-scale adoption of these technologies, driving the building materials industry toward green, low-carbon, and recycling development.