“Global Challenge, Global Solutions” is a series hosted on Climasphere highlighting inspiring, innovative, and creative global solutions to the challenge of climate change in the lead up to the next major climate conference, COP22. These solutions have been provided by members of the Earth To Marrakech coalition, a group of more than 50 media organizations, civil society groups, and businesses from around the world who are raising their voices in a collective call to move from words to action on climate change. Let’s send a message, from Earth To Marrakech: The solutions to climate change are out there, and they’re inspiring. 

Using CO2 to Make Concrete

Solidia’s technology can sequester CO2 into construction and building materials. Solidia uses a chemical reaction during production requiring less limestone and lower temperatures than conventional methods, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions. To make concrete, the cement and sand mix is hardened utilizing mainly waste CO2 instead of water. According to Solidia, the technology can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70% compared to conventional production.

Solidia’s concrete is ready in about 24 hours, compared to 28 days with conventional methods. The durability and strength of Solidia’s concrete was independently verified by CTLGroup. Solidia has partnered with Lafarge, a building materials company operating in 61 countries, through which their technology will be commercialized. The first materials to be introduced to the market are paving stones, roof tiles, and concrete blocks.

RELEVANCE OF SOLUTION
The pro­duc­tion of ce­ment, used to make con­crete, is re­spons­ible for up to 5% of total global car­bon emis­sions.¹ By bind­ing waste CO2, rather than wa­ter, into the ma­ter­ial in­stead of re­leas­ing it into the at­mo­sphere, Solidia effec­t­ively re­duces the car­bon and wa­ter foot­print nor­mally re­lated to con­crete pro­duc­tion.

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE:

ENVIRONMENTAL
Solidi­a’s tech­no­logy re­cycle more than 60% of the wa­ter used in pro­duc­tion, ac­cord­ing to the com­pany.

SOCIAL
Solidi­a’s con­crete re­cycles wa­ter, re­du­cing the im­pact of the con­struc­tion and build­ing sec­tor on wa­ter scarcity.

ECONOMIC
Solidi­a’s tech­no­logy saves the in­dustry time and wa­ter, while us­ing ex­ist­ing ma­ter­i­als, mak­ing it easy and af­ford­able to switch to sus­tain­able build­ing ma­ter­i­als.