Concrete as a CO₂ sink

Although concrete structures have an above-average life-span of up to a hundred years, concrete is still responsible for around 8 % of global greenhouse gas emissions due to the energy-intensive process of cement production and the enormous demand for concrete to meet the building demands of a growing world population. Demolition concrete is also one of the single largest global waste streams. Neustark has developed and launched a solution that mineralizes CO₂ in demolition concrete and mixing slurry as well as other mineral waste streams. CO₂ is stored in these plant solutions and removed from the atmosphere permanently.

The supply of the plants with CO₂ is ensured through biogenic sources, such as biomethane plants. Here, it is captured and then liquefied for efficient transportation so that it can later be used by construction material recyclers and ready mix plants for storage in granulated demolition concrete, mixing water and other mineral by-product and waste streams (e.g. bottom ashes). The CDR (carbon dioxide removal) certificates generated through this process are sold, on the voluntary carbon market, to companies with ambitious climate goals to compensate for inevitable carbon emissions.