India: A study at the DPG Institute of Technology and Management in Gurugram has investigated the effects of blending different concentrations of silica fumes to ground granulated blast furnace slag-based (GGBFS) geopolymer concrete. Findings reported in the Nature concluded that the addition of 10% silica fumes ‘significantly’ enhanced the durability and strength of the resulting concrete.
Canada: CarbiCrete has obtained the first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for its cement-free concrete masonry units (CMUs). The products have specific CO2 emissions of 11.7kg/m3 for the CMUs, 94% below the industry norm of 200kg/m3. FinancialWire News has reported that CarbiCrete’s recipe for the CMUs replaces cement with steel by-products, while also sequestering CO2.
Concrete products company Canal Block is set to commence production of CarbiCrete CMUs at its Port Colborne plant in Ontario in early 2025.
Finland: Saint-Gobain and steel company SSAB are building a new slag processing plant in Raahe in North Ostrobothnia. When commissioned in 2025, the plant will convert SSAB’s steel slag into 90% reduced-CO2 binders to replace cement in building materials. The partners aim to reduce the CO2 emissions of Finnish building materials production by 200,000t/yr. Saint-Gobain first patent a slag-based binder design in 2022.
Saint-Gobain will invest €12m and SSAB €2m towards the cost of the plant, which will be 35% funded by Sustainable Growth Finland, under the NextGeneration EU initiative.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Readymix and Finland-based Betolar have launched two new reduced-CO2 concretes, produced using ground granulated blast furnace slag and natural pozzolans with Betolar’s Geoprime technology. One of the products is cement-free and the other has an ultra-low (2.5%) cement content. TradeArabia News has reported that the dual launch concludes a successful partnership between the companies, which began in 2023.
Saudi Readymix technology and strategy director Chris Leptokaridis said "Saudi Readymix has been at the forefront of developing new technologies to meet our customers' increasing demand for eco-friendly, low-CO₂ solutions. Our partnership with Betolar has enabled us to successfully deliver on this goal, offering groundbreaking concrete recipes that significantly reduce carbon emissions."
Betolar senior researcher Ahmad Alzaza said "This project pushed the boundaries of innovation by bringing low-carbon technology into the ready-mix concrete space. We are proud to have contributed to a solution that will help advance sustainable construction across Saudi Arabia."
