Can Holcim build a sustainable future for the construction industry? (Portuguese)

Monteiro L. Felipe; Visnjic Ivanka

Product #:IN-2425

Supplier:INSEAD

Discipline:General Management

Setting:Global

Details:Case (PDF) • 42 pages • 2025-04-29

Industries:

Construction and engineering

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$9.71

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Holcim, a global leader in sustainable building solutions, has embarked on a bold decarbonization strategy to revolutionize the construction industry. This case examines its innovative practices, including partnerships with startups, digital transformation and product innovation, to tackle climate change and achieve net-zero targets by 2050. The case explores how Holcim balances local autonomy of its country subsidiaries with its global strategic goals to lead the transformation to sustainability.

Learning Objectives

The teaching objectives are focused on Holcim’s strategic journey toward sustainability transformation and the critical role of open innovation in achieving its ambitious goals. By exploring its transition from a volume-based business model to a values-driven strategy, the case provides an opportunity to explore how Holcim has embedded sustainability at the core of its operations while balancing profitability and environmental responsibility. The case enables a deep understanding of the strategic considerations that underpin the decarbonization of the construction industry, including the challenges and opportunities faced by a global leader in a hard-to-abate sector. Through Holcim’s initiatives in carbon capture, alternative materials, and circular construction, students grasp the complexities of aligning local autonomy with global sustainability objectives in a decentralized organization. The case emphasizes the significance of open innovation as illustrated by Holcim MAQER, a platform for fostering collaborations with startups and accelerating the adoption of transformative technologies. Students are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of leveraging partnerships with emerging ventures to drive sustainable innovations, reduce CO2 emissions, and transform the value chain. This exploration offers insights into how organizations can utilize external collaboration to overcome internal limitations and address industry-wide challenges. Overall, the case inspires discussion on how companies lead large-scale sustainability transformations while navigating market pressures, regulatory environments, and technological constraints, ultimately shaping the future of a more sustainable construction industry.