Ureaka turns waste concrete into carbon-negative cement replacement

A University of Strathclyde spinout called Ureaka is developing a process to turn low-value mineral waste into carbon-negative materials that can replace cement in concrete. Cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions, making it a major target for decarbonization. The company's method combines circular chemistry with mineral processing. It recovers calcium and silica from waste concrete, then reacts them with captured CO2 to form stable carbonate minerals. The resulting powder can substitute for part of the cement in standard concrete mixes without requiring changes to existing manufacturing systems. Ureaka is backed by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre and is working on factory-scale modeling and product testing. The company is seeking grant funding and preparing for a seed investment round to advance commercialisation of its drop-in cement replacement material.