Paebbl, a climate-tech company focused on carbon mineralization, has secured a €4 million ($4.7 million) grant from the European Innovation Council’s Pathfinder program, a funding vehicle designed to back high-risk, high-reward scientific breakthroughs. The goal: transform concrete from a major emitter into a durable carbon sink.
Rather than attempting to marginally clean up traditional cement, the project targets clinker which is the carbon-intensive ingredient at the heart of cement production.
Paebbl and its partners are developing an alternative binder made from magnesium-based silicates that permanently lock away CO2 through accelerated mineral carbonation. These materials can function as supplementary cementitious materials, or even partial replacements, without sacrificing strength or durability.
The project goes beyond lab chemistry. Researchers will use machine learning and advanced simulations to speed up both the mineralization process and the design of low-carbon concrete mixes tailored for real-world use.
Industrial relevance is central: the consortium includes precast concrete giant Consolis and building-materials heavyweight Holcim, alongside leading academic institutions such as Delft University of Technology and KU Leuven.
For Brussels, the effort fits squarely within a broader strategy to decarbonize “hard-to-abate” sectors using deep tech rather than incremental efficiency gains. For the construction industry, it signals a future in which climate compliance may hinge not just on reducing emissions—but on actively removing carbon from the atmosphere, one building at a time.
Read more: Paebbl Launches World’s First Continuous CO2 Mineralization Demo Plant
