New Zealand: A project at the University of Auckland to develop a novel, 90% reduced-CO2 concrete using pumice and seashells has reportedly entered the last year of its eight-year duration. The project uses pumice from the Te Awara Māori confederation’s Bay of Plenty and Tongariro deposits and kaimoana shells from the Ngātiwai Māori nation’s Bay of Plenty and Coromandel aquaculture farms to partly replace cement in concrete. The pumice component is activated by drying and grinding, without requiring calcination. Following the commercial launch of the material, its developers will initially target applications like footpaths, curbs and non-structural elements.
The University of Auckland has reported that the project commands a US$218,000 Marsden Fund research grant.
