Sustainable technology firm Recycl8 has been selected as the low-carbon concrete provider for Scotland’s Low Carbon Concrete Collective (LCCC).
Spearheaded by Scottish Water, the LCCC is a partner ecosystem which aims to accelerate the development and adoption of low-carbon concrete solutions in Scotland. Aberdeenshire-based Recycl8 was selected due to its commitment to environmental sustainability. With support from Scottish Enterprise, the company developed its patented R8: Mix, a pioneering lower-carbon concrete solution that fosters the Circular Economy by promoting and facilitating sustainable construction.
Scottish Water invited strategic partners to form this group following a review of their Scope 3 emissions, which revealed that around 20% of these can be attributed to concrete. The collective comprises Scotland’s main utility companies, including Network Rail, Scottish Power, Transport Scotland and SSE, as well as the country’s leading construction materials manufacturers, such as Breedon, Marshalls and Ibstock.
Within their role in the LCCC, Recycl8 has been trialling a number of potential applications for their R8: Mix, in conjunction with Breedon, Marshalls and Ibstock. These include structural foundations, pre-cast man-hole rings and pre-cast cable troughs, the successful roll-out of which would drive down the carbon emissions of Scotland’s utilities infrastructure.
Mark Gillespie, CEO of Recycl8, said: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Water to present our technology as part of the LCCC. Being part of the collective gives us a fantastic platform to showcase the capabilities of our lower-carbon concrete technology, particularly in relation to how it can support the businesses and organisations which form the backbone of our society.
“Collaborating with such high-profile strategic partners is absolutely key to unlocking the potential of our technology and driving down carbon emissions across our built environment and infrastructure.”
Last week Mr Gillespie presented at the LCCC’s first annual event – ‘Cementing Sustainable Change’ in Glasgow. This event brought together a unique representation of partners across the entire concrete value chain to reflect on the first year and set the course for the future.
“It was a huge privilege to be part of the LCCC’s first group event, and to have the opportunity to present our R8 technology and the trials we have carried out to date, with a view to making production units,” he added.
“There was a clear willingness to collaborate, and despite acknowledging the challenges of introducing a lower carbon concrete, there was a desire to influence decision-making as a group and make it happen.”
Over the past 12 months demand for the R8: Mix has surged, and Recycl8 has partnered with construction materials specialists Breedon on pours across Scotland and England for a variety of applications, including roads, pavements, buildings and infrastructure projects. Clients include Veolia, Barratt and David Wilson Homes, the ETZ, Haventus, Port of Aberdeen, Aurora Energy Services and Ashtead Technology Group.
