Construction-material provider Lafarge partners with 4Refuel for 50% blend of renewable diesel

Lafarge Canada Inc., Canada’s largest provider of sustainable construction materials, announced Nov. 10 a partnership with Finning International-owned 4Refuel for the supply of a 50 percent blend of renewable diesel (R50) to Lafarge in greater Vancouver until the end of the year.

Starting Oct. 1, Lafarge’s Vancouver-area aggregate, ready-mix, asphalt and construction sites introduced use of R50 across its diesel-equipment fleet.

The standard diesel used in greater Vancouver prior to the switch was B5, diesel that contains 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel.

“Reduction of fleet emissions is part of our larger advancement towards sustainable and profitable development in our operations across Canada, and a significant strategy in our journey to net zero”, said Lincoln Kyne, vice president and general manager of Lafarge Canada’s British Columbia and U.S. Pacific Northwest territories. “As industry drives towards sustainable solutions, we know the importance it will be for the government to incentivize business, like a carbon-tax reduction to help offset the increased costs to use renewable fuels.”

The switch from standard B5 to R50 renewable diesel will reduce approximately 36 percent or 1,300 metric tons of CO2e on a lifecycle basis by the end of 2022, a CO2 avoidance equivalent to taking 295 cars off the road.

Lafarge has projected a 5,000-ton CO2e annual reduction if the switch to R50 is made for all of 2023.

“We welcome Lafarge as a top-tier industrial customer to receive our R50 renewable diesel solution,” said Lauren Foulkes, director of sustainability for 4Refuel. “As a leader in mobile diesel-fuel delivery, we are excited to partner with Lafarge, an industry leader in providing building materials and innovative and sustainable building solutions. Further, we are delivering the fuel using R50 in our own fleet, helping to further decarbonize the transportation industry while reducing our customers’ scope 3 emissions.”

Renewable diesel is produced through a variety of biological, thermal and chemical processes using biomass sources. The current supply available to the market is limited and a higher cost to produce than standard B5 diesel. Manufacturers are strategic to select partners for significant impact and are using carbon credits to offset added costs.

Lafarge Canada is the first in Holcim Group North America operations to pilot a renewable diesel partnership as part of its carbon-reduction strategies.

The use of R50 supports the company’s drive towards a circular economy by procuring and powering production with alternative energy.