R2Crete, a University of Melbourne spinout, has raised $750,000 in pre-Seed funding from the Genesis Pre-Seed Fund and Uniseed. The startup uses a patented process to turn waste concrete into clean aggregates and a cement replacement, with the goal of cutting the need for virgin sand, gravel, and limestone. It claims the method can recover up to 75% of the cement in waste concrete and reduce carbon emissions by 50% while keeping concrete performance comparable to conventional mixes. The funding will go toward a pilot plant that is expected to finish construction by the end of 2026, followed by field trials in early 2027. Australia generates an estimated 7 million tonnes of waste concrete each year, most of which goes to landfill. R2Crete says the pilot will test whether its materials can be produced reliably and cost effectively at commercial scale.
