Microsoft is extending its push toward carbon-negative operations with a new investment in Fortera, a California-based startup developing low-carbon cement technology. Through its Climate Innovation Fund, Microsoft will finance the construction of Fortera’s first full-scale commercial facility and secure access to its ReCarb cement—a material that emits up to 70% less carbon than traditional portland cement. The collaboration aims to reduce the embodied emissions of Microsoft’s rapidly expanding data center infrastructure, one of the company’s largest sources of construction-related CO₂.
Cement production is responsible for roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Fortera’s technology offers a practical path forward by transforming waste CO₂ into productive feedstock that existing plants can adopt without costly overhauls. For Microsoft, the partnership reflects a broader effort to reshape industrial supply chains through corporate demand for cleaner materials—following similar agreements for green steel and sustainable building products. As data center growth accelerates, initiatives like this signal a tangible step toward aligning digital expansion with climate responsibility.