Major Emissions Reduction: Microsoft’s long-term deal with Sublime Systems will help cut emissions from its global construction operations, including datacenters and office buildings.
Market Signal for Clean Cement: The agreement enables Sublime to accelerate scale-up, positioning its “true-zero” cement as a competitive, bankable solution.
New Model for Clean Materials: Microsoft pioneers an EAC-based model to decouple environmental benefits from physical cement, overcoming geographic and supply chain barriers.
Microsoft has entered into a landmark agreement to purchase up to 622,500 metric tons of low-carbon cement from Sublime Systems over the next six to nine years, marking a pivotal step toward decarbonizing heavy industry.
The cement will be sourced from Sublime’s first commercial factory in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and a future full-scale production facility. The deal is both a supply chain decision and a climate strategy, enabling Microsoft to access Sublime Cement® regardless of where its construction projects take place.
“In designing creative transactions such as this one with Sublime, Microsoft aims to accelerate the mass production and adoption of clean construction materials,” said Jeff Leeper, Vice President of Global Datacenter Construction at Microsoft. “We need breakthrough, reimagined products like Sublime Cement at scale to reduce emissions—both at Microsoft and globally.”
Sublime Cement is produced through a proprietary electrochemical process that avoids fossil fuel combustion and limestone decomposition—two major sources of CO₂ in traditional cement. This “true-zero” process is also cost-competitive at scale and results in a more durable, aesthetically superior product.
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“This purchase enables Microsoft to access Sublime’s low-carbon cement technology regardless of where their construction is,” said Dr. Leah Ellis, CEO and Co-founder of Sublime Systems. “It solves a previously intractable challenge for clean cement scale-up: the lack of long-term transactions needed to prove demand and fund growth.”
The contract introduces a book-and-claim model through which Microsoft can purchase environmental attribute certificates (EACs) separately from the physical cement. This approach mirrors the clean energy sector’s renewable energy certificates, enabling flexibility and scalability across dispersed construction sites.
“To reach net zero, the world needs innovative technology solutions like Sublime Cement,” said Katie Ross, Director of Carbon Reduction Strategy & Market Development at Microsoft. “This EAC approach helps both buyers and sellers overcome geographic, supply chain, cost, and other barriers.”
The EACs will be third-party verified and integrated into a future book-and-claim system, building on a 2024 memorandum of understanding and aligning with guidance from organizations like RMI and the Center for Green Market Activation.
Sublime’s Holyoke facility, bolstered by an $87 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, is part of a broader push to modernize American cement manufacturing and strengthen domestic supply chains. The facility is also bringing high-quality manufacturing jobs back to a historic industrial hub.
By locking in this long-term, scalable partnership, Microsoft is not only lowering its own carbon footprint—it’s catalyzing the market for next-generation clean building materials.
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