Segment information - Summary of adjusted EBITDA (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment information - Consolidated Balance Sheet
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 6,176	$ 5,388	$ 4,806
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	(1,633)	(1,552)	(1,479)
Loss on impairments (i)	(357)	0	0
Interest income	206	65	0
Interest expense	(376)	(344)	(315)
(Loss) gain on divestitures (ii)	0	(99)	78
Pension income excluding current service cost component (ii)	3	30	9
Other interest, net (ii)	(5)	0	3
Substantial acquisition-related costs	0	(27)	0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense and income from equity method investments	$ 4,014	$ 3,461	3,102
Defined benefit plan, net periodic benefit Cost (credit) excluding service cost, statement of income or comprehensive income [Extensible Enumeration]	Other nonoperating (expense) income, net	Other nonoperating (expense) income, net
Americas Materials Solutions
Segment information - Consolidated Balance Sheet
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 3,059	$ 2,638	2,543
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	(781)	(777)	(750)
Loss on impairments (i)	(62)
(Loss) gain on divestitures (ii)		0	104
Americas Building Solutions
Segment information - Consolidated Balance Sheet
Adjusted EBITDA	1,442	1,219	720
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	(299)	(236)	(155)
(Loss) gain on divestitures (ii)		0	(25)
Europe Materials Solutions
Segment information - Consolidated Balance Sheet
Adjusted EBITDA	1,395	1,195	1,228
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	(464)	(466)	(490)
Loss on impairments (i)	(295)
(Loss) gain on divestitures (ii)		(99)	3
Europe Building Solutions
Segment information - Consolidated Balance Sheet
Adjusted EBITDA	280	336	315
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ (89)	(73)	(84)
(Loss) gain on divestitures (ii)		$ 0	$ (4)