UC Davis Research Reveals Building Materials That Can Store 16 Billion Tonnes of CO2
As the global community races to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, innovative strategies for carbon sequestration are gaining traction. Building materials engineered to store CO2 presents a transformative opportunity. A recent study from UC-Davis reveals that fully replacing conventional building materials with CO2-storing alternatives could sequester as much as 16.6 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, offsetting approximately 50% of the world’s anthropogenic emissions. This breakthrough redefines the role of the construction industry in mitigating climate change and opens new avenues for sustainable urban development.
Traditionally, the construction sector has significantly contributed to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 10-23% of global emissions, primarily from producing materials like concrete and steel. However, introducing carbon-storing materials such as bio-based plastics, carbonate-based aggregates, and CO2-absorbing cement is poised to reverse this trend. These materials leverage natural and engineered processes to lock CO2 within their structure, transforming buildings into long-term carbon sinks.
Concrete, for instance, holds immense potential. By incorporating magnesium oxide-based cement and carbonated aggregates, this ubiquitous material can store up to 11.5 billion tonnes of CO2 each year, driven by its massive global demand. Similarly, innovative brick designs using biomass fibers or mineral carbonation can contribute an additional 2.4 billion tonnes of CO2 storage.
Several companies are pioneering advancements in carbon-storing materials. Solidia Technologies and Carbon Upcycling are developing cements that integrate CO2 during production, achieving up to 70% lower emissions than conventional methods. Meanwhile, Blue Planet and O.C.O. Technology focus on creating synthetic carbonate aggregates, combining industrial waste with CO2 streams to produce carbon-negative building materials.
Bio-based plastics are another promising avenue. Though they account for just 1% of annual plastic production, companies like Braskem and Mango Materials are scaling innovations to use waste biomass and methane as feedstocks. These bio-plastics can be deployed in durable construction applications, enhancing carbon storage potential.
The adoption of CO2-storing materials offers benefits that extend beyond emissions reductions. These materials can reduce reliance on environmentally risky carbon storage methods like geological or ocean sequestration, which often face logistical and safety challenges. Additionally, the low cost of feedstocks, such as agricultural residues and industrial by-products, makes many of these materials economically competitive with traditional options.
Moreover, integrating carbon-storing technologies into the construction industry can stimulate job creation and foster innovation. Local economies can thrive by establishing regional supply chains for bio-based materials and carbon mineralization technologies while contributing to global climate goals.
Despite their potential, several challenges remain. The cost of developing and scaling these technologies and the construction industry’s risk-averse nature pose significant hurdles. Performance-based codes and standards are needed to validate these materials’ safety and durability, encouraging widespread adoption.
Resource availability is another critical consideration. For example, producing biochar fillers for cement would require substantial increases in agricultural residue utilization, necessitating sustainable forestry and agricultural practices to avoid unintended environmental impacts. Similarly, the energy demands of producing carbonatable cements must be addressed to ensure net carbon savings.
Integrating CO2-storing materials in the built environment represents a pragmatic and scalable solution to the climate crisis. If widely adopted, these materials could reshape urban landscapes, turning cities into active participants in carbon mitigation. As companies continue to innovate and policymakers implement supportive frameworks, the construction industry’s transition from carbon emitter to carbon sink is within reach.
By embracing these advancements, stakeholders across sectors can drive meaningful progress toward net-zero goals.
