Revolutionary solution to unlock concrete-to-concrete circularity

ongoing

C2CA, a spin-out of TU Delft, is transforming the construction industry by upcycling waste concrete into a low-carbon cement substitute, addressing the urgent challenge of reducing CO2 emissions from cement production. Cement accounts for 8% of global emissions, yet its low-cost, availability, performance and versatility make it essential and much desired. Reducing these emissions has been challenging—until now. C2CA’s breakthrough process converts low-value waste concrete into high-quality, low-carbon materials, particularly a highly reactive cementitious binder. Unlike competitors who downcycle concrete into low-grade aggregates, C2CA produces premium materials to replace cement, delivering both environmental benefits and commercial viability. Our low-carbon cement competes on cost and quality with traditional alternatives like fly ash and slag, which are being phased out. While new options like calcined clay and mine tailings are costly or energy-intensive to produce and transport. By 2024, C2CA has developed its core machines on an industrial scale, processing over 1,000 tons of waste concrete. Our materials have been validated in multiple pilot projects, proving technical and commercial viability. The next milestone is building our full-scale upcycling plant. EIC funding is essential for advancing our project, which requires significant capital and has long lead times. Proving our plant’s reliability is crucial for commercial rollout, but we encounter technical, regulatory, and market risks that complicate investment, including energy price volatility and a preference for traditional materials. With the EIC support we can overcome the barriers, complete our flagship plant, demonstrate our technologies at an industrial scale, and build a comprehensive testing facility. This facility will streamline the process at a smaller scale to accelerate innovation and include a material testing lab to ensure the successful market introduction of recycled concrete.