CarbiCrete, a company specialising in decarbonised concrete, and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provider Climate Earth have announced the release of the EPD for the former’s cement-free concrete masonry units (CMUs).
The companies made the announcement at the Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association’s Canadian Hardscapes Activities Meeting in Montreal.
CarbiCrete's technology allows for the production of concrete without the use of cement, thereby avoiding emissions typically associated with cement, and mineralising carbon dioxide into the concrete for permanent storage.
This process uses a steel-making by-product, replacing cement in the concrete mixture.
The first-ever EPD, verified by ASTM, indicates that CarbiCrete CMUs, produced by Patio Drummond in Quebec, have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 11.7kg CO₂ equivalent (eq) per cubic metre of concrete.
This value is said to be significantly lower than the industry average GWP, which exceeds 200kg CO₂ eq per cubic metre, representing a substantial advancement in the development of low-carbon concrete solutions.
The EPD is plant and product-specific and provides engineers, architects and builders with accurate and transparent data, helping them to achieve their sustainability goals by choosing CarbiCrete's cement-free CMUs.
Canal Block, a masonry producer in Port Colborne, Ontario, is set to begin production of CarbiCrete products in early 2025.
CarbiCrete CEO Jacob Homiller said: “This EPD demonstrates the substantial impact that our technology has on reducing the CO₂ footprint of concrete. CarbiCrete’s technology provides considerable value to the construction industry and end users, and this EPD enables them to make more informed comparisons to meet their sustainability goals.”
Climate Earth CEO Chris Erickson said: “By working together, we’re able to create product and site-specific EPDs showcasing these extraordinary carbon reductions. Different from industry averages, our EPDs capture the full impact of using local suppliers and recycled materials, empowering clients to highlight their sustainability efforts with clarity and precision.”
