Patio Drummond opens order book for CarbiCrete block

Sources: CarbiCrete, Montreal; CP stafff

CarbiCrete, developer of a process where steel slag and carbon dioxide replace portland cement and steam in concrete masonry unit mixes and curing, has taken a critical step in commercialization thanks to its charter North American producer, Quebec-based Patio Drummond. After extensive testing, the concrete hardscapes producer has begun selling CarbiCrete block directly from its Drummondville plant northeast of Montreal. The block is promoted as carbon-negative, reflecting the avoidance of CO₂emissions associated with the portland cement used as CMU mix binder and the CO₂ sequestered as each block cures and hardens to specification in a chamber confining the greenhouse gas. Every metric ton of CarbiCrete process output equates to the abatement or removal of 150 kilograms of CO₂.

**CarbiCrete block molded with steel slag binder mix on the Patio Drummond production line.**

“Our tests have proved conclusive, and we are now proud to announce that CarbiCrete carbon-negative concrete blocks are available on the market,” says Patio Drummond co-owner Philippe Girardin. “This breakthrough heralds a promising future for us and the concrete industry. We are convinced that CarbiCrete technology combined with our expertise will position us as a leader in the manufacturing of sustainable concrete products that exceed all industry requirements and specifications.”

“We have been working with Patio Drummond since 2018 when we launched our pilot. Bringing our carbon-negative technology to market is a very exciting step in the evolution of that partnership,” observes CarbiCrete CEO Chris Stern. Beyond creating construction products that will reduce embodied carbon in the built environment, he adds, implementation of CarbiCrete’s fully carbon-negative technology will generate valuable credits for companies looking to offset emissions and meet carbon reduction targets.

The product launched at Quebec’s Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 regional qualifier, leaders of which proceed to the finals at World of Concrete in Las Vegas. Funding for the Patio Drummond pilot and its scale-up to full commercialization was provided by Transition Énergétique Québec’s Technoclimat program; Sustainable Development Technology Canada; and, NGen, Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster.