Building Materials: A Billion-Tonne Opportunity for Carbon Storage

The idea of using building materials to store carbon is gaining momentum, offering a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A recent study published in Science highlights how this approach could help sequester billions of tonnes of CO2 annually.

The study suggests that replacing conventional materials with carbon-storing alternatives could store up to 16.6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, or about 50% of global emissions in 2021.

Companies worldwide are leading this effort by innovating sustainable materials.

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Companies Pioneering Carbon-Storing Technologies

Several companies are exploring ways to integrate carbon storage into widely used materials such as concrete, bricks, and plastics. These organizations are at the forefront of creating solutions that could revolutionize the construction industry.

Alternative Cement Solutions

Concrete production contributes significantly to global emissions, but companies are rethinking its composition to make it carbon-negative. For instance:

• Solidia Technologies is working on a cement that uses CO2 during the curing process, reportedly cutting emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional methods.

• Carbon Upcycling uses captured CO2 to create additives for cement, enhancing strength while reducing the material's carbon footprint.

These innovations address both the carbon-intensive production of cement and its potential as a carbon sink.

Carbon-Negative Aggregates

Aggregates used in concrete and asphalt present another opportunity for carbon storage.

Companies like Blue Planet and O.C.O. Technology focus on synthetic carbonate aggregates.

These materials combine industrial waste with CO2 to create building components that are not only sustainable but also carbon-negative.

Advances in Bioplastics

The demand for sustainable plastics is driving innovation in bioplastics.

Companies like Braskem and Biovyn produce bio-based polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, respectively.

These materials reduce dependency on fossil fuels and can integrate carbon derived from biomass, offering a more sustainable alternative.

Biomass-Based Bricks

Bricks made from biomass are gaining traction as another way to store carbon. For example:

• Orbix creates bricks using calcium carbonate derived from industrial by-products.

• Just Biofiber incorporates hemp and other organic materials, combining them with mineralization techniques to produce carbon-storing building blocks.

These bricks not only sequester carbon but also utilize waste materials, enhancing their environmental value.

Bio-Based Asphalt Alternatives

Replacing petroleum-based asphalt with bio-oil alternatives is another promising development.

Avello Bioenergy is developing bio-asphalt binders from agricultural residues. Similarly, Avantium has partnered with infrastructure companies to implement lignin-based bio-asphalt, reducing emissions by up to 60%.

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The Broader Implications of Carbon-Storing Materials

The study emphasizes that building materials could act as long-term carbon reservoirs.

As ELISABETH VAN ROIJEN notes, “Building materials could store more than 16 billion tonnes of CO2 annually,” underscoring the vast potential of this approach.

SABBIE A. MILLER, one of the study’s authors, highlights how modest adjustments in material composition could lead to transformative climate benefits.

While these innovations are promising, scaling them remains a challenge.

Many companies are still in the pilot or prototype stages, hindered by cost barriers and the conservative nature of the construction industry. However, the demand for sustainable materials is growing, driven by policy incentives and a push for decarbonization.

Policy and Market Drivers

Regulatory frameworks and market demand play crucial roles in advancing these technologies.

Initiatives like the European Green Deal and California’s net-zero cement legislation create opportunities for these innovations to thrive.

Additionally, companies exploring carbon storage solutions are likely to benefit from partnerships with governments and industries seeking sustainable alternatives.

The Road Ahead

The potential of carbon-storing materials to mitigate climate change is undeniable.

Collaboration between companies, governments, and research institutions will be key to overcoming barriers and scaling these technologies.

With further investment and innovation, the built environment could become a significant carbon sink, reducing the need for other costly storage methods like geological sequestration.

To learn more about this groundbreaking study, you can access it directly at Science.org.