Sustainability in concrete technology has become a paramount consideration within the construction industry, driven by a growing awareness of environmental impact and a commitment to reducing carbon footprints. European startups operating in this niche include Hyperion Robotics, Strong by Form, and others.
Concrete4Change (C4C), a startup based in Nottingham with a mission to address emissions associated with concrete production, recently concluded a £2.5 million seed funding round. Led by Zacua Ventures and Counteract, this investment signifies a significant step forward for C4C’s goal of permanently capturing and utilizing CO2 in the concrete-making process.
With a team of 12 members, C4C is seeking to recruit 2 to 3 highly skilled and motivated technical personnel to the team who can join and have an immediate impact, helping them achieve their technology milestones in the next 12 months.
Dalraj Nijjar sheds light on the driving force behind the establishment of C4C, emphasizing the need to address emissions related to concrete. The positive reception from the industry and rapid technological progress motivate C4C to scale up over the next two years for commercial deployment.
Transforming concrete production
Concrete, a globally prevalent material, has seen limited innovation over the years. C4C was founded with the specific objective of addressing emissions linked to concrete production. The startup aims to bring about change in an industry that has experienced minimal evolution in the environmental aspect of concrete manufacturing.
C4C’s distinctive CO2 mineralization approach
C4C’s technology takes a unique approach to CO2 mineralization, acting as an additive rather than a traditional binder in concrete. This innovative method not only expedites the approval process due to compliance with admixture standards but also positions C4C as a frontrunner in the quest to decarbonize concrete.
Challenges and future plans
Navigating the regulatory landscape for concrete presents a significant challenge. However, C4C’s approach, functioning as an additive, simplifies the approval process. In terms of scalability, C4C is actively working to reduce costs and utilize readily available waste materials and CO2 as feedstock for its process.
Series A funding and market penetration
C4C’s focus is on a Series A round in late 2025 or early 2026. The startup positions itself uniquely against competitors, with a focus on Europe as its primary market. The objective is clear – to penetrate 5% of European concrete production by the end of the decade.
Speaking about scalability, co-founder Dalraj says, “scalability challenges typically revolve around cost and the availability of materials and resources in this space. We are concentrating on rapidly reducing the cost curve and using abundantly available waste materials and CO2 as feedstock for our process, which goes a long way towards solving the scalability problem.”
C4C’s environmental impact: Towards net-zero concrete
The technology developed by C4C has the potential to significantly reduce emissions associated with concrete production. With a 20% reduction in emissions through CO2 mineralization and reduced cement usage, C4C aims for the long-term goal of achieving net-zero concrete.
Commenting on the investment, Juan Nieto, General Partner, Zacua Ventures and former investor at Cemex Ventures added: “C4C’s approach has major potential to green up concrete without altering its existing production process, capitalising on the established supply chains. And here’s the kicker – no extra cost for going green, plus it’s already playing nice with regulations…”
Richard Barker, Partner, Counteract, added, “We really like C4C’s innovative solution for decarbonising cement. The utilisation of a carrier that contains captured CO2 creates a potential drop in solution for a long-standing industry with well-established supply chains. The solution is also complementary with a range of the industry’s other decarbonising pathways currently in development.”
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