Carbon-negative aggregate manufacturer O.C.O. Technology captures King's Award for Enterprise

Carbon-negative aggregate manufacturer O.C.O. Technology has been honoured with the King's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development 2024.
Quarry Products / May 6, 2024
By Guy Woodford
O.C.O. Technology has been honoured with the King's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development 2024. Pic: O.C.O. Technology

The carbon capture specialist, headquartered in Brandon, Suffolk, is one of 252 organisations nationally to be recognised.

Announced today, the highly sought-after accolade is only awarded to outstanding U.K. businesses.

O.C.O. Technology's Chief Executive Officer Steve Greig said: "We are hugely proud to be awarded such a prestigious honour, cementing our reputation as the clear U.K. market leader in carbon mineralisation.

"Our patented technology offers real, sustainable solutions in helping the Energy from Waste (EfW) industry manage the disposal of waste materials, turning them into carbon-negative manufactured limestone aggregate, which is in high demand from the construction sector. 

"To have our hard work acknowledged at the highest level is incredibly rewarding, and we look forward to flying the flag for British success and the circular economy as we continue to develop our partnerships on the world stage."

OCO board
The O.C.O. Technology board. Pictured left-right are Peter Wroth, Graham Cooper, Steve Greig, Lee Thompson and Paul Barber. Pic: O.C.O. Technology

Headquartered at Brandon in Suffolk, England, and having recently opened a £10 million new production facility in Wretham, Norfolk, O.C.O Technology has a £30 million turnover and employs 120 people across the country, with other operations in Avonmouth and Leeds. It is currently working in partnership with organisations in Australia, Japan, and Europe and is looking at future opportunities in North America and further across Asia.

The company's pioneering Accelerated Carbonation Technology (A.C.T.) treats Air Pollution Control residues (APCr), predominantly from Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities, with carbon dioxide gas. 

The process transforms it into an artificial aggregate, which is recognised as the world's first carbon-negative aggregate because more CO2 is permanently captured than is used in the manufacturing process.

The King's Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen's Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King's desire to continue the legacy of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding U.K. businesses. 

O.C.O. was commended for adding value to stakeholders' environmental performance (through carbon reductions and waste avoidance), and its research and development programme was highlighted for fostering innovation in new product applications, such as asphalt and concrete.

The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country. Successful businesses can use the esteemed King's Awards Emblem for the next five years.

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise.

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