CarbonBuilt’s ultra-low-carbon concrete was recognized by the prestigious Fast Company Innovation by Design 2023 awards in three separate categories: Circular Design, Materials and Sustainability.
CarbonBuilt’s core technology enables concrete producers to replace high-cost and high-carbon cement with a lower cost, low-carbon cement alternative, then capture and use CO2 during the manufacturing process to produce concrete blocks that have 70 to 100-plus percent less embodied carbon than traditional blocks. Given the lower cost for raw materials, it doesn’t cost concrete producers any more to make ultra-low carbon concrete than traditional concrete and the technology can be integrated into existing production plants.
“This recognition by Fast Company reflects not just the innovative design of our technology, but also of our business model,” says Rahul Shendure, CEO of CarbonBuilt. “We’ve believed from the outset of our journey that adoption was dependent on economics – and our solution doesn’t increase the cost for our customers to produce a truly more sustainable product for which demand is growing.”
The Innovation by Design Awards, which can be found in the September 2023 issue of Fast Company, honor the designers and businesses solving the most crucial problems of today and anticipating the pressing issues of tomorrow. The competition, now in its 12th year, features a range of blue-chip companies, emerging startups, and hungry young talents. It is one of the most sought-after design awards in the industry.
“So much innovation news these days is focused on AI,” says Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company.“This year’s Innovation by Design honorees are a reminder that it’s human ingenuity that drives invention.”
CarbonBuilt’s first customer, Blair Block in Childersburg, Ala., recently began the production of the world’s first ultra-low carbon concrete. The first line at the plant will avoid at least 2,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions plus remove more than 500 tonnes of atmospheric CO2 per year. Through process optimization and integration of additional lines, Blair Block and CarbonBuilt expect to increase this impact over time.
The judges include renowned designers from a variety of disciplines, business leaders from some of the most innovative companies in the world, and Fast Company’s own writers and editors. Entries are judged on the key ingredients of innovation: functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, user insight, cultural impact, and business impact.
