Displaying items by tag: sustainability

US: A joint study by the University of Colorado Boulder and Pennsylvania State University has demonstrated a lack of ‘granularity’ to regional benchmarks for the use of reduced-CO₂ concrete, while recognising the benchmarks as a ‘promising starting point.’ The team found that regional global warming potential (GWP) targets may be less attainable outside of metropolitan areas. The researchers noted that two cities – Los Angeles and New York – hold 41% of concrete environmental product disclosures (EPDs). In addition to a lack of access to concrete with EPDs, builders outside of the country’s cities face an increased burden of emissions due to transport.

Finland/Germany: Finland-based Carbonaide has cured 1kg of concrete with CO₂ captured using NeoCarbon’s direct air capture (DAC) method. The partners blended the CO₂ with other CO₂ from biogenic sources. They said that the project, called NeoDuo, successfully demonstrated concrete production with 50% reduced CO₂ emissions, and can also be used to produce carbon-negative concrete when cement is substituted with alternative binders.

The companies plan to scale this technology to achieve 1000t of CO₂ sequestered by 2026. They are reportedly on track to begin providing carbon removal credits to customers later in 2025.

US: Canada-based CarbiCrete has launched its CarbiFlo cement-free paving grids in the US market. It says that CarbiFlo paving grids allow permeation for stormwater runoff and soil stabilisation. Maine-based retailer Gagne & Son will distribute the product.

UK: Construction firm Skanska is using 3000 planks of precast concrete made with 50% ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) for the upcoming 105 Victoria Street commercial development in Westminster, dubbed ‘London’s most sustainable office building.’ Engineering firm Laing O’Rourke will design and produce the planks at its Worksop, Nottinghamshire, concrete plant. Construction Management Magazine News has reported that the 105 Victoria Street building will include 2000m² of green space and terraces.

Canada: CarbiCrete has installed new equipment at Patio Drummond's Drummondville plant for the production of concrete using its cement-free technology. The technology mineralises captured CO₂ for sequestration inside the product.

France: Saint-Gobain subsidiary Chryso has launched EnviroMix C-Clay, a new range of additives designed for the production of concrete using calcined clay cement. Chryso says that the product enables concrete producers to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 50% by displacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

Singapore: A team at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has developed a new method for 3D printing concrete that incorporates steam and CO₂ from industrial by-products into the concrete mix. The team says that the process enhances the strength of concrete, while reducing the total volume used in construction.

Saudi Arabia: Abdullah Abdin Ready-Mix Concrete has gained certification for its products from the Concrete Sustainability Council. The company says that it is the first ready-mix concrete in the Middle East-North Africa region to do so. The company hosted an award ceremony to mark the occasion at its site in Sharma, NEOM.

Canada: CarbiCrete has entered into a new ‘financing collaboration’ with US-based social media group Meta for its installation of CarbiCrete equipment at Canal Block’s Drummond concrete plant in Ontario. Climate consultancy 3Degrees will verify Canal Block’s CO₂ emissions reductions per the terms of the financing collaboration.

Saudi Arabia: Al Kifah Readymix & Blocks (KRB) has secured accreditation for its CarbonCure CO₂-injected concrete. Gulf Construction News has reported that the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation accredited CarbonCure as a Type-S additive following year-long tests. Canada-based CarbonCure Technologies licensed the technology to KRB. The producer uses CarbonCure in its Congreen range of reduced-CO₂ cements.

KRB General Manager Nigel Harries said "This milestone marks KRB as the first company in the Kingdom to utilise this innovative solution.”