Low-carbon concrete innovation arrives in London
Heidelberg Materials UK trial first use of CarbonCure in ready-mixed concrete at Greenwich plant
HEIDELBERG Materials UK have expanded the range of low-carbon concretes available from their Greenwich ready-mixed plant, following the first trials of CarbonCure technology in England.
The company is testing the system in ready-mixed concrete produced at the Thameside facility, with early indications showing a potential CO₂ reduction of around 7–11kg/m³.
CarbonCure works by injecting pure manufactured CO₂ into fresh concrete, where it reacts chemically and becomes permanently mineralised. The process improves hydration efficiency, increases early strength, and enables producers to reduce cement content in the mix by an average of 5%, whilst locking the CO₂ in for good.
‘The CarbonCure trial is the first of its kind to trial the technology in ready-mix concrete in England and is another example of our commitment to innovation and decarbonising our business, to deliver lower carbon construction materials to our customers,’ said Daniel Clayton, concrete technical director at Heidelberg Materials UK.
‘We’re continuing to invest in a range of innovative technologies to enable this, including partnering with CarbonCure in this trial where the mineralised CO₂ within the concrete stays permanently locked in, even if the concrete is demolished at some point in the future.’
CarbonCure can be integrated seamlessly into existing production processes and does not affect the performance of the finished concrete.
The Greenwich trial further strengthens the Thameside plant’s position as a low-carbon construction materials supply hub, with the site also offering calcined clay, evoBuild low-carbon GGBS, crushed concrete, accelerators, and evoZero – the world’s first carbon-captured near-zero cement.
Developed more than a decade ago in Canada, the CarbonCure process has since gained significant traction worldwide, particularly in North America. The technology has already been deployed on major projects, including Amazon’s HQ2 in Virginia and General Motors’ manufacturing facility in Tennessee, demonstrating its capability at scale and its growing acceptance across the construction sector.
