A University of Strathclyde spinout called Ureaka is developing a process that converts demolished concrete and other low value mineral waste into a carbon negative cement replacement. The material, a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), captures CO2 during production and locks it into stable carbonate minerals. The company says the powder can be added to standard concrete mixes without changing existing manufacturing methods, potentially cutting the 8% of global CO2 emissions tied to cement production. The approach tackles both waste and emissions: it recovers calcium and silica from waste streams instead of mining virgin materials, and uses captured CO2 to form solid carbonates. Ureaka is now moving from lab scale to factory scale modelling and plans third party testing in a live manufacturing environment. The company is seeking grant funding and preparing for a seed investment round to support commercialization.
