On the heels of increasing availability of its cement-free, carbon-negative binder through a Lafarge Canada production agreement, CarbiCrete has announced a doubling of signature block output at Patio Drummond, Quebec neighbor and premier binder user. The CarbiCrete process substitutes portland cement with a steel slag binder and brings carbon dioxide into the concrete masonry curing phase, where the gas is mineralized and permanently sequestered.
“Patio Drummond has been an unwavering partner from when we launched our pilot in 2018 through to being the first manufacturer to bring our technology to market,” says CarbiCrete CEO Chris Stern. Beyond the creation of sustainable building products, he adds, the implementation of CarbiCrete’s technology generates carbon credits available to companies looking to offset emissions and meet their carbon reduction targets.
‘’We are excited to be able to bring added capacity to the market,” adds Patio Drummond co-owner Philippe Girardin. “The more blocks we manufacture, the greener the world gets. It’s a win-win situation.’’
ONTARIO NAVIGATION
Concurrent with the Patio Drummond production ramp up, Ontario peer Canal Block has announced an $8 million investment at its Port Colborne plant to incorporate the CarbiCrete process. NGen, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing, will contribute $3 million toward the project, mirroring support provided to Patio Drummond. The partnership with Canal Block will provide Ontario builders the same low carbon concrete block availability as their counterparts in Quebec, notes Stern, adding, “We are tremendously grateful for NGen’s continued support, which is helping Canada position itself as the undisputed world leader in low carbon concrete.”
“We have a long history of developing sustainable products for the masonry industry,” affirms Canal Block President Durk Bylsma, and “are excited to partner with CarbiCrete to bring this truly revolutionary technology to market and further our commitment to be an ecologically and socially responsible manufacturer.”
ASTM C90 PERFORMANCE VALIDATION
Testing by CTLGroup, Illinois-based structures and construction materials expert, has confirmed CarbiCrete blocks meet ASTM C90, Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units requirements for compressive strength, permissible variations in dimensions, plus finish and appearance criteria. Announcement of the ASTM C90 performance followed closely on Enviro-access, an environmental impact specialist, quantifying how CarbiCrete’s process is carbon negative—thereby eliminating the global warming potential or carbon dioxide emissions factor reflected in concrete masonry units molded with portland cement mixes.
“This validation, using industry-accepted standards, is an important step in our demonstrating that CarbiCrete-enabled products deliver equivalent or better performance than those made with cement, while reducing emissions and permanently removing CO2,” says CarbiCrete’s Chris Stern. “Reducing embodied carbon in the built environment does not require any compromise on performance. That’s our message to the construction community.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with CarbiCrete to implement and expand their innovative solution,” adds Jolene McLaughlin, vice president of Climate and Sustainability at EllisDon, a major general contractor based near Toronto. “EllisDon is keen to support alternative construction means and methods that support decarbonization across the industry.”