Cement Waves

I sit on the board of a non-profit working hard to bring a new skatepark to our community

While I still occasionally roll around cautiously on a board, my prime skateboarding days are behind me. These days, my son and his crew are there almost every afternoon, pushing themselves, trying new tricks, and making it look easy. Today’s skateboarding is well beyond what I used to do. It’s wild, creative, and a blast to watch.

The local skatepark is showing its age. It’s mostly rusted metal frames covered with worn-out wood. It’s barely functional. Our non-profit wants to replace it with a state-of-the-art concrete skatepark. 

The modern parks are not just facilities; they are functional sculpture. They become canvases for self-expression as these kids hone their art. 

Of course, not everyone is on board. 

Community members raised concerns about environmental impacts, even around the use of concrete. And they’re not wrong: traditional cement is a major carbon emitter.

But here’s the game-changer.

What if we could build our new park using a cement that’s not just strong and durable—but also sustainable?

Meet Sublime Cement, developed by Sublime Systems, a startup spun out of MIT. This isn’t just a tweak to the existing process—it’s a full-on reinvention. Traditional cement, like Portland cement, contributes nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. That’s largely due to the high heat required to process limestone, and the CO₂ released from the limestone itself during the process.

Sublime’s approach bypasses all that.

Instead of burning limestone, they use electrochemical synthesispowered by renewable electricity. They extract calcium from non-carbonate sources—like silicate rocks or industrial waste—avoiding the carbon emissions baked into traditional methods. The result is a zero-carbon cement that performs just like the old stuff.

This is a major change because it opens the door for sustainable construction without sacrificing performance or affordability:

• Sublime’s cement could eliminate up to a billion tons of CO₂emissions each year.
• It’s powered by renewable energy, not fossil fuels.
• The system allows for local, small-scale production, which means reduced transportation emissions.
• It creates a closed loop by incorporating industrial waste as raw material.

And perhaps most importantly—it’s ready. Sublime Cement meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, meaning it’s structurally sound and construction ready.

This is more than a cool innovation, it’s a real shot at transforming an industry. Developers, architects, and institutions are already getting behind it. It could be the foundation for building more sustainable cities and communities.

In short, Sublime isn’t just building better cement, it may be paving a new way forward.

So, when we talk to our town about the new skatepark, maybe we don’t just talk about rails, ramps, and bowls. Maybe we talk about a vision, a place where kids push the limits on a surface that’s pushing the limits of sustainable design.

Yes, not everyone will be convinced. But if we can show that even cement can evolve for the better, maybe it helps. Maybe it tips the vote. Maybe it sets an example for how we can build the future, not just for fun, but for good.
For the Good,

Michael Nichols

Numbers You Need to Know

1950’s

Skateboards were developed in the 1950’s by California surfers as a way to recreate the feeling of riding a wave. The first boards were wooden planks with steel roller skate wheels nailed to their front and back ends. (Hermosa Beach Museum)

1965

In 1965, the first skatepark was built in Tucson, Arizona. Named “Surf City,” it had a bowl set-up just like a modern park. The oldest privately owned skatepark is in Jacksonville, Florida, Kona Skatepark opened in 1977 and is still running today. (Red Bull))

2020

After making its debut on the Olympic stage at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, skateboarding, was one of the five sports to make an Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (Olympics.com)

What’s New in Sustainable Investing

Institutions Still Committed to Sustainable Investing

BNP Paribas’ ESG Survey 2025, an initiative of the bank’s Securities Services, in coordination with Global Markets and Financial Institutions Coverage businesses, finds a vast majority of institutional investors remain committed to sustainable investing. (Market Media)

The Sustainable Finance Podcast: The key to investing in the global energy transition

The Sustainable Finance Podcast Shah talked about using a face-to-face approach to advancing the energy transition: investors walking the streets, visiting the plants, talking to the people and learning the business culture. (Equities.com)

Video Of The Week