Laing O’Rourke targets carbon-neutral concrete manufacturing

Laing O’Rourke has joined a growing list of international companies aiming to decarbonise concrete production, with the multinational firm kicking off a new study at its Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction in Nottinghamshire, England.

Funded through the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the ‘Decarbonising manufactured concrete’ project involves a comprehensive study into energy efficient and low carbon emission technologies for manufacturing concrete components.

Laing O’Rourke will be working in a consortium with experts from the University of Cambridge and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to investigate every facet of the production process, from the use of low carbon concrete, steel and aggregate materials and technologies, to the systems used to create formwork and cure products.

The objectives of the project are twofold: to apply new lower carbon materials and processes to reduce the embodied carbon in finished products, including columns, walls, floor slabs, and architectural facades used in built assets; and to decarbonise the operation of the facility.

After initial scoping work to quantify, prioritise and define decarbonisation interventions, the consortium will conduct feasibility trials for each intervention.

In April, Laing O’Rourke’s announced its new global sustainability targets, which include achieving operational net zero by 2030 and becoming a net zero company before 2050.

Chris Millard, R&D Leader, Europe at Laing O’Rourke, said concrete manufacturing accounts for 45 per cent of UK greenhouse gas emissions.

“The project could also be a catalyst for the implementation of the [UK] Government’s Construction Playbook, which sets out policies to increase the use of manufacturing in construction, to boost productivity and deliver better, faster and greener public buildings and infrastructure.

“Our vision is to put any developments to work across our global business, and to share learnings that build on overall sustainability efforts across engineering and construction,” he noted.

Laing O’Rourke’s facility in Nottinghamshire employs 400 people and is Europe’s most advanced construction products manufacturing facility.

Global drive for carbon neutral concrete by 2050

The announcement by Laing O’Rourke follows a global initiative launched by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and the World Economic Forum to achieve carbon neutral concrete by 2050.

Called ‘Concrete Action for Climate’ (CAC), the idea is to pool expertise from business, civil society, governments and investors to stimulate demand for sustainable materials and make financing and public policy assist in meeting the goal.

GCCA members represent 40 per cent of the global concrete and cement industry.

Dominik von Achten, chairman of HeidelbergCement and of the CAC, said the industry needed to engage and collaborate better.

“Strong action to improve the sustainability of cement and concrete is already underway, but the industry needs to engage and collaborate with others to help drive collective action towards achieving carbon neutral concrete for the world,” he said.

Nigel Topping, UN High Level Climate Action Champion at COP26 – UN Climate Change Conference, said the launch of Concrete Action for Climate was a strong demonstration of the cement and concrete industry’s commitment to completely decarbonising their entire supply chain.

“Now we must implement this ambition with the rapid uptake of green cement and concrete across the industrial ecosystem.”

CAC is inviting companies to join its efforts with ideas for policy, financing and involvement in COP26.