Holcim has partnered with Swedish startup Paebbl and contractor Goldbeck to deploy a carbon-storing concrete technology in a commercial construction project in Germany.
The technology was used in the foundations of a logistics centre for a global retailer in southern Germany.
According to the companies, this marks the first commercial-scale application of Paebbl’s carbon mineralization technology in concrete.
The material, known as Paebbl Rebond, is designed to permanently store captured CO2 while reducing the amount of cement required in concrete production. Thus, the project aims to demonstrate how carbon-storing materials can be integrated into large-scale construction.
Technology Converts Captured CO2 Into Building Material
Paebbl Rebond uses accelerated mineralization to convert captured CO2 into a stable mineral powder composed mainly of magnesium carbonate and silicon dioxide. The material can then replace part of the cement used in concrete mixes.
According to the companies, the concrete floor slab achieved a 15% reduction in cement use compared to conventional reference materials.
At the same time, the project permanently stored around 886 kilograms (1,953 lbs) of CO2 across the 4,520-square-foot construction area. The development moved from concept to implementation within six months.
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Testing was carried out at the Holcim Innovation Center in Lyon, alongside plant trials in southern Germany to assess performance characteristics including workability and air content.
Holcim and Paebbl also collaborated on an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the concrete.
“With this project we’ve proven how we can scale innovative technologies for a more sustainable built environment,” said Bengt Steinbrecher, Head of Holcim MAQER Ventures. The project reflects growing interest in low-carbon construction materials as the cement and concrete sector seeks ways to reduce embodied emissions.
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