CarbiCrete Carbon Utilization Project

In a world where concrete is the second most widely consumed substance, the need for sustainable alternatives is paramount. Traditional concrete production relies heavily on cement, the production of which is responsible for  approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CarbiCrete offers a groundbreaking solution with its carbon-negative concrete, revolutionizing the construction industry by consuming more CO2 than it emits. CarbiCrete’s process utilizes steel slag, a typically landfilled byproduct of steel manufacturing. The products are cured with captured biogenic carbon dioxide, completely eliminating the need for cement. This unique CO2 curing process not only avoids emissions associated with cement production, but also permanently removes CO2 from the atmosphere. For every concrete block produced using this method, 2 kg of CO2 emissions are avoided, and for every 2,000 blocks, 1 ton of CO2 is permanently mineralized. The process also enables the production of other cement-free masonry and hardscape products, like pavers and retaining walls.

Concrete production has proven to be a difficult sector to decarbonize, but injected carbon offers the industry a scalable way to store carbon and avoid the use of cement. The CarbiCrete process embeds CO2 feedstocks in the concrete during the curing process, which become permanently trapped ‘rock’ in the concrete’s structure, with no chance of escaping into the atmosphere. Now mineralized, the CO2 remains part of the concrete even if it’s demolished. 

Since commencing commercial-scale production in Quebec in late 2023, CarbiCrete has been working to rapidly expand its production in Canada, Europe and the United States. Partnerships with industry leaders such as Lafarge, Patio Drummond, and Canal Block have been instrumental in these developments. Lafarge grinds raw steel slag into the cementitious material for CarbiCrete’s processes, while Patio Drummond and Canal Block are key producers of CarbiCrete concrete products.

Emission reductions at CarbiCrete’s facilities will be quantified using the VM0043 Methodology for CO2 Utilization in Concrete and/or Puro’s Carbonated Materials Methodology for CO2 removal, with reductions verified and delivered annually. 3Degrees manages the credits generated by CarbiCrete, overseeing everything from verification to the marketing and sale of the environmental attributes. Companies that purchase high-quality, verifiable carbon credits from projects like CarbiCrete support early stage low carbon cement and help startups drive down the green premium of their product and unlock financing to scale and grow their facilities.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by countries in global partnership to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.