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).
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
