Cement-free concrete block construction demonstrated.
January 29, 2025
Aecon was joined by CarbiCrete and Innocon (a subsidiary of Lafarge Canada) for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Aecon’s Innovation and Training Centre in Holland Landing, Ont., to mark the completion of construction for the first structure using CarbiCrete’s cement-free concrete masonry units (CMUs) and Lafarge Canada’s advanced ECOpact low-carbon concrete. The low-carbon building will be used by Aecon as a tool storage facility for trainees working at the facility.
The pilot project was billed as a valuable use case for innovative low-carbon construction solutions.
“We are excited to collaborate with Lafarge and CarbiCrete in testing low-carbon concrete and cement-free concrete blocks, taking an important step toward advancing sustainability in the construction industry,” says Prabh K. Banga, vice-president of sustainability at Aecon. “By combining our expertise, we are not only pushing the boundaries of innovation but also addressing the pressing challenges of carbon emissions in the built environment.”
According to CarbiCrete’s recently published environmental product declaration, their decarbonized CMUs boast a global warming potential (or carbon footprint) that is 20 times lower than the industry average.
“At Lafarge Canada, we’re proud to lead the way in sustainable construction by delivering innovative low-carbon building solutions to our customers,” said Andy Unger, vice-president of concrete for Lafarge Canada East. “Our collaboration with Aecon and CarbiCrete in Holland Landing exemplifies our commitment to our net zero journey. Together with like-minded partners, we’re demonstrating how collective action can drive progress for people and the planet.”
“The use of low-carbon concrete represents the single greatest opportunity to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment,” said Jacob Homiller, CEO of CarbiCrete. “We’re pleased to be collaborating with the innovative teams at Aecon and Lafarge Canada to decarbonize the construction sector.” CarbiCrete is a Montreal-based carbon removal technology company whose patented technology enables the production of cement-free, decarbonized concrete made with industrial by-products and captured carbon dioxide.
With the successful completion of this trial, Aecon, CarbiCrete, and Lafarge Canada hope to set a new industry standard in the use of low-carbon construction products to advance sustainable practices.
