Concrete: the understated, ‘sexy’ carbon offset solution

Electric scooters. Lab grown meat. Vertical farming.

All deemed by Silicon Valley as some of the sexiest ‘green’ products worthy of funding in 2021.

Alas, many alternative solutions being built to offset climate change are being overlooked by investors due to lack of glamour and appeal, with the principal victim being sustainable concrete technologies; the ‘ugly duckling’ of climate tech. However, at Potential Climate VC, we believe that sustainable concrete is, in fact, sexy. We also believe that concrete’s current circularity issues being addressed will have a huge long-term impact on preserving our environment.

Following coal-powered electricity, concrete manufacturing is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases; accounting for approximately 5% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide production globally. If the concrete industry was a nation, it would be the world’s third largest emitter, only behind the US and China. Every five seconds, the global construction industry pours more than 19,000 bathtubs worth of concrete. The majority of the world’s largest structures stand with the support of concrete, including Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the Sydney Opera House and Manhattan’s 432 Park Avenue. In short, concrete is crucial, but damaging. Although facilitating urban landscapes to sprawl endlessly — both horizontally and vertically — the CO2 released through production, exacerbation of flooding and disruption of ecosystems is truly detrimental to our fragile planet.

This negative impact, however, can be offset by innovative technologies; several exciting start-ups are working towards making concrete a carbon-negative product in 2021.

In Episode 2 of the Cool Hominids Podcast, we speak to Liz Gilligan from Material Evolution, a company creating a new form of sustainable concrete based on geo polymer technology. Using a 3D nano structure, they have been able to make cement from 95% waste, which reduces carbon emissions by 85%. This process also enables them to improve the mechanical and structure properties of the cement, so it can be anything from two to 10 times stronger, five times more durable and three times more fire resistant.

Established in 2017, Canadian start-up CarbonCure Technologies introduces previously captured carbon dioxide into batches of fresh concrete; once injected, the CO₂ undergoes a mineralization process and becomes permanently embedded within the concrete in the form of CaCO3, or Calcium Carbonate. Every cubic metre of concrete produced with CarbonCure technology saves an average of 37 lbs of CO₂ emissions. CarbonCure’s technology being used in the construction of an average high rise building would prevent approximately 680 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere; equivalent to the volume of carbon absorbed by an 888 acre forest over an entire year.

Another startup focused on making concrete greener is Cloud Cycle, a software company based in East London. Cloud Cycle’s platform monitors wet concrete logistics, optimising batch contents and significantly minimising wastage. 5% of all concrete produced is not used, amounting to $40 billion yearly, and Founder Phillip White aims to slash current inefficiencies, set up a marketplace for any surplus concrete, all whilst reducing global carbon emissions by 1%.

Admittedly, concrete may never be seen as the hottest new thing in tech; but you’ve got to admit; the positive impact which green concrete can potentially have on our planet is a complete game changer.

And also pretty sexy.

Written with James Frost @ Climate VC. James was an amazing intern with us. To find out more about how you can join our Intern Program, reach out to hello@climate.vc.