The limitations of a brand rooted in early 19th century intellectual property have compelled a Portland Cement Association name change to American Cement Association (ACA).
President and CEO Mike Ireland announced the move on May 7 during the 2025 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference Industry Insights Session at the Birmingham (Ala.) Jefferson Convention Center. A brand and logo migration will proceed over the next few months.
“The most important reason for the name change is that in recent years, U.S. cement manufacturers have expanded the types of materials they produce beyond portland cement, working to develop more lower-emission cements in an effort to decarbonize the industry and increase domestic cement manufacturing capacity,” Ireland explained. “The name ‘Portland Cement Association’ no longer accurately reflects the modern mindset of today’s manufacturers, or the materials they currently produce. Additionally, the rebranding makes it clear that we are a national association that speaks for cement manufacturers across the country.”
During the session, Monica Manolas, region president – Ash Grove Cement and ACA board vice chair, also shared a video with conference attendees, revealing the association’s new slogan: Sustainable Cement for Resilient Concrete.
“The slogan summarizes the industry’s commitment to staying the course with our Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality,” Manolas said. “We continue to focus on developing new technologies and products to achieve not only net zero by 2050 but also to increase the capacity of American cement manufacturing to meet demand.”
ACA members considered a new banner for their organization, chartered in 1916, over the past year, recognizing that the long-generic term portland tethered them to perceptions of a narrow product offering with geographic connotation. The latter stemmed from the British mason Joseph Aspdin, who obtained a patent in the 1820s for a thermal process of converting limestone and clay to a hydraulic binder for sand and gravel. His branding was a nod to the rock deposits on the Isle of Portland along the English Channel.
Lower-emissions cement consumption has grown more than tenfold since 2021 and now accounts for more than 60% of total cement consumed in the U.S. In 2024, all 50 state Departments of Transportation approved the use of portland-limestone cement (PLC). PLC reduces the carbon footprint of projects by up to 10%.
