Holcim & Neustark Partner on Construction Carbon Capture

The construction industry is a major player in global carbon emissions, accounting for 37% of the total.

One of the most significant waste types coming from this sector is demolition concrete, which generates over one billion tonnes annually. In this challenging context, the climate tech company Neustark has developed an innovative solution to use this waste product for good by permanently storing carbon dioxide within it.

Neustark has forged a strategic partnership with Aggregate Industries, a component of the Holcim Group, focusing on reducing the ever-growing carbon footprint of the building sector. They celebrated their first operational site on November 4th, 2024, with the capability of permanently capturing and storing 1,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

According to Lee Sleight, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, the collaboration is a major advancement in the construction sector's fight against climate change.

"Our partnership with Neustark takes the battle to reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry to the next level," he says. "Together, we can remove carbon from the atmosphere and permanently lock it into recycled concrete, which can be used again in new construction projects."

He adds: "We are excited to get this technology set up in London, where there is direct access to a huge supply of demolished concrete. And this isn't just carbon removal, it's a reinforcement of a circular economy enabling the reuse of a major waste stream. Once fully operational, we believe other contractors and specifiers will adopt this technology as well, accelerating their own decarbonisation journeys. Together, we can drive towards our net zero goals."

Neustark a carbon capture specialist

Founded in 2019 and based in Switzerland, Neustark has committed itself to the global goal of limiting global warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius. Its carbon-capturing method proved its worth for the first time in 2021 when recycled concrete containing trapped CO2 was utilised. By 2024, the company boasts 19 CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) facilities and nearly 3,000 tonnes of CO2 sequestered.

The technology developed by Neustark processes reclaimed concrete granules by injecting captured CO2, triggering a mineralisation process that turns it back into stone. These processed granules are then ready to be converted into fresh recycled concrete or other construction materials.

UK's Onshore Carbon Removal Innovation

Neustark’s UK venture with Aggregate Industries is among the first commercially viable solutions for onshore carbon removal in the country. This initiative can store up to 10 kg of CO2 per tonne of demolished concrete processed.

"The UK is an ideal market for us as it has a mature supply chain and the infrastructure we need to remove CO2 at scale," explains Valentin Gutknecht, CEO and Co-Founder of Neustark.

He adds: "The UK government is supportive of building a competitive carbon market and shifting the industry away from early-stage developments to a competitive commercial set-up.

"But there is not enough focus on carbon removal or consideration of how carbon removal can be embedded into existing supply chains and industries beyond oil and gas rather than always requiring extensive new infrastructure.

"This partnership is proof that collaboration between a cleantech startup and a global leader in building solutions can create tangible climate impact today. The rest of the construction industry should follow suit and we need to look at other applicable industries too."

Neustark has ambitious plans to roll out 40 more sites across Europe by 2025, cementing its role as a leader in ecological carbon reduction strategies.
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