The developed method could reduce emissions from cement production, while captured carbon dioxide (CO2) is permanently stored.

Ureaka, which was founded by the scientist Dr Philip Salter, is merging circular chemistry with mineral processing to form supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) from waste streams.

SCM’s are made to be used together with cement in concrete, lowering the level of cement required, without needing alterations to traditional manufacturing processes.

The project, which is supported by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Spin Out Fund, is now progressing from laboratory research towards the commercial stage. This includes factory-scale modelling and preparation for product testing.

Approximately 8% of international CO2 emissions are attributed to cement and concrete production because of the energy-demanding aspect of manufacturing and the chemical reactions that come into play.

As such, Ureaka wants to turn waste mineral streams such as demolished concrete, into new cement replacement materials.

Calcium and silica are among the elements that are recovered during the process, with captured CO2 used to ultimately lock the carbon into a solid state.

The SCM, as a result, is made as a drop-in powder that can be put into ordinary concrete mixes, enabling manufacturers to lower their use of traditional cement without altering current production processes. 

Looking forward, Ureaka is now looking for additional grant funding and is preparing for a seed investment round to aid growth and further development. 

The company is also eyeing third-party testing of its material within an environment of live manufacturing. 

Dr Philip Salter, founder and chief executive of Ureaka, said: “Cement is one of the hardest industries to decarbonise because, even if you electrify production, a large share of emissions still comes from the chemical reactions involved. 

“Ureaka is taking a fundamentally different approach: starting with the mineral value already present in waste concrete, reacting it with captured CO2, and turning it into a cement-replacement material that can work within existing supply chains. A key priority for us has been ensuring the process can plug into existing manufacturing systems.”

Caroline Kewney, senior impact manager at IBioIC, said: “Construction materials are a significant contributor to global emissions, so there is a clear need for scalable alternatives that can support decarbonisation across the sector.

“This project demonstrates how industrial biotechnology can turn waste streams into valuable new materials, while also supporting carbon capture and more circular approaches to manufacturing.”