Latest news with #CarbiCrete
CTV News
03-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Companies taking concrete steps toward capturing revenues from carbon dioxide
A CarbiCrete curing chamber in which CO2 is permanently mineralized into concrete during the curing process is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CarbiCrete (Mandatory Credit) It can be used to make fuel, fertilizer, building material and even soap, but can carbon dioxide be a money maker, too? Carbon capture has long been a focus of emissions reduction efforts in Canada. It involves collecting the climate-warming gas from industrial sites and preventing it from entering the atmosphere, most often by stowing it away permanently underground. Less common has been capturing CO2 and making it into something useful. 'Carbon utilization does not have a big history. It's relatively nascent,' said Apoorv Sinha, chief executive of Carbon Upcycling. The Calgary-based company combines industrial waste products with carbon dioxide to make a cement-like product that can be used in concrete foundations and sidewalks. 'Canada actually punches well above its weight in carbon-to-value across the building material sector, even in carbon chemicals.' Storing carbon has been the automatic go-to as industry has a wealth of experience doing it at a large scale, said David Sanguinetti, interim CEO at cleantech incubator Foresight Canada. While carbon utilization has the benefit of generating direct revenues from usable products, the economics are uncertain in a lot of cases, he said. 'It's either niche or not great right now with the current state of technology,' he said. 'If you don't have a price on carbon, then a lot of the current concepts that are out there, which are technically feasible — people have done it in the lab, they've proven it out — there isn't an economic driver to make it happen.' The Canadian Gas Association commissioned a report from Foresight Canada last year into the carbon utilization market, which concluded that storing carbon from large industrial emitters is likely to beat out using it — at least for the time being. Foresight sees southwestern Ontario being a good spot for carbon utilization to take root as there are clusters of large emitters and innovation hubs, but little in the way of infrastructure for underground storage like Alberta has. CO2 utilization falls into two categories — direct use or conversion. Direct use includes the long-standing practice of injecting the gas into mature oilfields to draw more barrels to the surface. With conversion, the chemical makeup of the gas is altered to make products like aviation fuel and fertilizer. At a smaller scale, Calgary-based CleanO2 captures the gas from building heating systems and turns it into pearl ash used in its hand soap, shampoo and other products. One of the more promising applications has been using the gas in building materials so it's trapped permanently. Last week, Carbon Upcycling held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Ash Grove cement plant in Mississauga, Ont., where work on a commercial demonstration project is underway. Production is to begin next spring. CarbiCrete, based in Montreal, has developed technology for greener precast masonry and hardscapes — think concrete blocks, retaining walls and paving stones that can be sent to a construction site, not the ready-mix stuff churning in a truck's drum. Concrete is traditionally made up of cement, aggregate like rocks or gravel, and water. 'It's the most abundant manmade substance on the planet,' said Yuri Mytko, CarbiCrete's chief marketing officer. 'But cement has traditionally been the key ingredient and cement is hugely problematic in that it accounts for about eight per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.' CarbiCrete uses steelmaking slag instead of cement, and cures it in a chamber with CO2 instead of applying heat and steam. 'You're left with a concrete product that has the same properties as cement-based concrete, except with none of the emissions associated with it and also with carbon having been permanently mineralized and removed from the atmosphere,' said Mytko. CarbiCrete licenses its technology to concrete product makers and helps them retrofit their plants. Dave Sawyer, principal economist at the Canadian Climate Institute said utilization can work by helping companies generate credits to sell, but it's a relatively small piece of the emissions-reduction picture. Carbon capture, utilization and storage in general has been painted by business and industry as 'one big silver bullet technology,' he said, but there are other emissions-busting approaches that should be getting more attention. For example, sodium ion batteries may be just as technically feasible as carbon capture, utilization and storage — and maybe cheaper. 'But we just keep going to this big lumpy thing ... that is really cost prohibitive.' Sinha said carbon utilization gets a fraction of the support and resources of traditional storage projects, whose technology has been around for decades. 'What needs to happen is more support and a larger focus towards deploying these technologies quickly and testing them out. Because right now, just the amount of data — how to build these facilities, how to operate them — very little of it exists.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2025. Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
Cision Canada
16-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
POINT.P and CarbiCrete Announce the 2026 Launch of France's First Cement-Free Concrete Block Production Line Français
PARIS, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - POINT.P, a Saint-Gobain brand, and Canadian company CarbiCrete, have announced the opening of a production line to manufacture decarbonized concrete beginning in the first quarter of 2026. A major milestone for low-carbon construction in France Two years after signing a cooperation agreement with Canadian company CarbiCrete, POINT.P, a Saint-Gobain brand, has announced the opening of France's first cement-free concrete block production line at its plant in Hauts-de-France. The site will be operational in the first quarter of 2026 and will produce concrete blocks that avoid 100% of cement-related emissions, while permanently sequestering carbon dioxide. This production line will use CarbiCrete's patented technology to produce 20,000 tonnes of cement-free concrete blocks in its first year, with production set to double in its second year. Groundbreaking technology for sustainable construction The process developed by CarbiCrete represents a significant innovation breakthrough in the building materials space. The technology involves replacing cement, one of the world's most polluting materials, with steel slag, an industrial by-product of the steel industry. The concrete is then hardened by injecting captured CO₂, which is permanently removed when it is sequestered within the product. The resulting blocks have a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional, cement-based products while maintaining the mechanical, technical and performance characteristics of traditional blocks. This announcement firmly establishes POINT.P's role as a leader in the decarbonization of the building sector. The industrial deployment of this technology at POINT.P's facility is the evolution of a pilot project that has been ongoing since 2023 in Quebec, which successfully demonstrated the robustness of CarbiCrete's innovative decarbonization solution technology, its economic viability and its industrialization potential. "This launch, a major first in France, is a key part of advancing our strategy towards sustainable, low-carbon construction to meet the needs of our customers," says Nicolas Godet, POINT.P's Managing Director. "We are proud to be working alongside CarbiCrete, to move from prototype to large-scale implementation of this innovative technology that enables the production of a more sustainable block for low-carbon construction. Together, we are demonstrating that cement-free concrete, with its greatly reduced carbon footprint, is no longer a laboratory concept, but a tangible, reliable and scalable solution for decarbonizing construction." "Our entry into the French market is a pivotal moment for CarbiCrete," says Jacob Homiller, the company's CEO. "We see POINT.P, with their commitment to sustainable housing, as the ideal partner for scaling our technology. This major milestone paves the way for wider adoption of the CarbiCrete process in Europe and beyond, bringing us closer to realizing our vision of making concrete a climate solution." About POINT.P With a network of more than 1,000 sales outlets and 235 showrooms, POINT.P supports all construction, renovation and fitting-out projects. As a player in energy renovation and decarbonation, the company markets all the products, solutions and services needed to build an economical, comfortable and sustainable home. It offers expert advice on structural work, plastering, insulation, roofing, tiling and coatings, and interior and exterior joinery. Close to building professionals and individuals alike, POINT.P mobilizes the best of the housing community (industrial partners, craftsmen, specifiers, etc.) and develops innovative digital tools to make their projects a success. POINT.P is the main brand of Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France and has 11,500 employees. About CarbiCrete CarbiCrete is a Montreal-based carbon removal technology company whose patented technology enables the production of cement-free, decarbonized concrete made with industrial by-products and captured carbon dioxide. About Saint-Gobain Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose "MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME".
Cision Canada
03-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Isobloc ZÉRO - Decarbonizing construction with North America's first cement-free, insulated masonry solution Français
LANAUDIÈRE, QC, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Quebec-based companies Isobloc, known for its high-performance, durable insulated concrete blocks, and CarbiCrete, a world leader in decarbonized concrete, are proud to announce the launch of Isobloc ZÉRO: the first insulated masonry solution made from decarbonized concrete in North America. This 100% Quebec innovation combines thermal performance, ease of installation, and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions—helping to make building construction more sustainable. Replacing cement: a high-carbon-footprint material Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally due to its affordability and durability. However, producing one of its key ingredients—cement, the binding agent—is responsible for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions, more than the entire aviation industry. By combining CarbiCrete's patented process—using steel slag and captured CO₂ to produce cement-free concrete—with Isobloc's energy-efficient insulated block system, Isobloc ZÉRO delivers the same performance as standard concrete while significantly reducing construction's carbon footprint. The Canadian construction industry is expected to reach USD 417.3 billion by 2033, making such solutions more critical than ever. "Many cities and municipalities have committed to decarbonizing construction in the coming years," says Eric Dionne, President of Isobloc. "With Isobloc ZÉRO, we're not just building walls—we're building for future generations. This is a real revolution in construction. An insulated masonry solution that's durable, easy to install… and now decarbonized." Designed and manufactured in Quebec, Isobloc ZÉRO is intended for architects, contractors, developers, and institutions looking for tangible solutions to meet new environmental standards without compromising quality or profitability. Priced comparably to conventional materials, it offers real added value, meets ASTM 90 performance standards, and contributes to certifications such as LEED, BBCA, WELL, and SmartScore. "CarbiCrete is constantly pushing the boundaries of green building," says Jacob Homiller, CEO of CarbiCrete. "By combining our cement-free concrete technology with Isobloc's energy-efficient solution, we're giving building professionals a powerful tool to reduce both embodied and operational carbon in buildings." Isobloc ZÉRO is helping drive construction toward a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient future. The product is available now directly from Isobloc.
