10:45 - 12:30

Meeting the challenge of net zero: navigating the future of sustainable concrete

Insights into low-carbon concrete, cutting-edge emission reduction strategies, the role of additives, and innovative production solutions. Illuminating the path toward the UK’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero by 2050 (or earlier).

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10:45 - 10:50

Introduction

Susannah Streeter, Host

10:50 - 11:05

Decarbonising the UK concrete industry: an update

Elaine will provide an overview of the action being taken and recent progress on the industry’s roadmap for decarbonisation. It includes action on transport; energy use and fuel switching; carbon capture, use and storage, as well as development of standards for greater use of powdered limestone and reclaimed clay and other innovation.

Elaine Toogood, Director, Architecture and Sustainable Design, MPA - The Concrete Centre

11:05 - 11:25

Practical low carbon concrete construction in Europe’s largest hospital project

Imerys and VINCI Construction partnered to develop a groundbreaking sustainable low-carbon concrete using Metakaolin, which was used extensively for the construction of this high-profile project in Nantes, France. This presentation will discuss the use of Metakaolin and the on-site challenges using low carbon concrete and methodologies for their successful use and optimisation.

Colin Dowds, Global Technical Manager, Imerys

11:25 - 11:40

A model linking compressive strength and porosity in ternary system: metakaolin, limestone, cement

Replacing traditional cement with high clinker content swiftly reduces mortar and concrete's carbon footprint, as cement accounts for 70% of it. Research suggests limestone and metakaolin could replace current clinker production. Studying binary systems (limestone/cement and metakaolin/cement) reveals their impact on flow and compressive strength. A model correlates compressive strength with porosity, showing limestone and metakaolin accelerate clinker hydration, boosting early strength in proportion to their surface area.

Pascal Gonnon, Global Senior Manager for cement, mortar and concrete applications, Omya UK

11:40 - 11:55

Concrete2Concrete recycling: bringing low carbon and circular solutions to the concrete industry through technology transfer

John will highlight why concrete recycling is important and why the current situation is inadequate to meet the future needs of developers. He will discuss how Xeroc has explored various technologies before it was satisfied that old concrete could effectively be separated into its constituent materials to enable recycling. John will explain the recent innovate UK trial and its results. He will finish by looking to the future of concrete recycling, making it a mandatory element of any regeneration project.

John Twitchen, Director, Xeroc Ltd 

11:55 - 12:15

Ecoshot low carbon shotcrete: preparing the sprayed concrete industry for the changes to CEMI production in the UK

Shotcrete Services are renowned for their expertise in sprayed concrete design and construction, in both Civil Engineering and Tunnelling industries completing high profile projects including Selfridges, Birmingham, the Darwin Cocoon in the Natural History Museum extension, London. There tunnelling port folio includes Major Projects such as CrossRail, Thames Tideway, and currently HS2. Stuart will share his latest pioneering research with an overview on the use of GGBS combined with powdered accelerator to reduce embodied carbon within accelerated sprayed concrete. 

Stuart Manning, Technical Director, Shotcrete Services

12:15 - 12:30

Panel discussion

13:00 - 14:20

Prevention or Cure?
Exploring advantages in concrete construction

Dive into the specific nuances of prevention, cure, repair, remediation, waterproofing, and new build approaches in the UK's concrete construction sector.

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13:00 - 13:05

Introduction

Susannah Streeter, Host

13:05 - 13:25

Prevention "and" cure: solutions for challenging environments

With an increased focus on sustainability and ageing existing infrastructure, the construction industry needs materials with better durability, offering long term solutions that also allow the rehabilitation and reuse of existing assets while delivering lower carbon and environmental footprints and more resilience. Calcium aluminate concretes and mortars provide long term protection from combinations of heat, abrasion, and chemical environments. Examples include floors and wastewater where these materials outlast alternative solutions providing significantly lower environmental impact over the lifetime of the new or rehabilitated asset.

Damian Thomas, Commercial Development Manager, Infrastructure, Imerys

13:25 - 13:45

Self-healing concrete for underground construction

Recent research into innovative bio-self-healing concrete has largely focused on above-ground structures. However, underground structures, such as tunnels and water tanks, face unique challenges due to their interaction with soil environments, which can also offer a solution. This talk introduces a pioneering approach to enhance the durability of underground cementitious materials by leveraging the self-healing properties of natural soils. It showcases how different soil conditions and cement mixes impact the healing process, highlighting the synergy between these materials and the natural healing abilities of soil microorganisms. It will feature compelling experimental results drawn from the latest research conducted by a cross-disciplinary team of experts in microbiology and civil engineering at the University of Derby.

Dr Omar Hamza, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, University of Derby

13:45 - 14:05

Where concrete repair and sustainability meet

As UK industry moves towards 2050 carbon targets, the built environment clearly has a significant part to play. With this in mind, Craig Hannam and Deiniol Williams of Fosroc UK & ROI will be speaking about incorporating concrete repair and restoration into a carbon emission reduction strategy, taking into account the ‘whole life’ carbon cycle.

Deiniol offers invaluable insights on repairing concrete, exploring the Standards, BSEN1504, and the methodology used to revive struggling structures. This provides the scope for significant ‘sustainability gains’, giving structures extended lifespans where they may otherwise be demolished.

Craig will focus on the sustainability and environmental impacts of Fosroc’s products, and the processes the company are going through to mitigate their carbon footprint.

Deiniol Williams, Area Sales Manager, South West, Fosroc, past President of The Concrete Society, and Craig Hannam, Market Sector Manager UK & ROI, Fosroc

14:05 - 14:20

Panel discussion

14:45 - 15:00

All matters concrete

A guide to The Concrete Society, your route to independent advice, support on all matters concrete past, present and future, and including a UK wide network of technical and social networking events.

Kathy Calverley MBE, Managing Director, The Concrete Society

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15:15 - 15:30

Innovation spotlight:

Recent advances in graphene enhanced concrete

Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice which was first isolated from graphite at The University of Manchester in 2004. Over the past 20 years scientists at the University of Manchester have found that it is possible to utilize graphene’s unique properties across a range of products and applications. One of the emerging applications is concrete and construction materials and we have found that using graphene-based materials as an additive in both traditional and low carbon concrete systems can enhance mechanical properties such as compressive, tensile and flexural strength. The inclusion of graphene also brings secondary benefits such as reduced porosity, reduced shrinkage and a reduction in crack propagation. The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) is located in the Masdar Building at the University of Manchester, it has world-class facilities and resources supported by experienced and knowledgeable applications engineers and internationally renowned academics, working across a broad range of novel technologies. We work directly with industrial partners to scale up technology for real world commercial applications.

Dr Lisa Scullion, Applications Manager, Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre - The University of Manchester

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