About the ecoLocked Project
Visit us at the Klimafestival in Berlin on 19–20 November at the startup area, booth S16! ecoLocked is enabling a more climate-friendly built environment by converting captured carbon into functional materials. The construction sector has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, but is struggling to achieve that goal, in particular for embodied carbon from building materials. Due to the lack of progress in reducing emissions, humanity will need to capture and lock away gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere – 10 Gt per year by 2050. This initiative is all about turning challenges into opportunities, and doing it with a modern, innovative twist… staying true to its original mission while exploring new boundaries in sustainable construction.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
Key benefits and figures highlight the significance of ecoLocked’s approach:
- ecoLocked converts captured CO2 into functional, carbon-negative admix materials.
- The construction industry now has a clear pathway to carbon-neutral materials by reducing the need for cement, sand, and other fossil raw materials.
- Concrete – the second-most consumed material on Earth after water – is responsible for approximately 8% of global emissions. Its production is projected to double by 2060.
- By integrating biochar-based products, captured carbon is permanently sequestered in concrete structures, transforming them into long-term carbon sinks.
- Each product is designed to not only lock away carbon but also to enhance performance aspects like strength, weight reduction, durability, thermal insulation, and pollution filtration.
Carbon-Negative Materials for Sustainable Construction
ecoLocked creates functionalized, CO2-negative admix materials and helps the construction industry build with climate-friendly materials. Products derived from carbon dioxide removal technologies bring a new dynamic to the market. The innovative biochar-based concrete admix materials permanently sequester and store CO2 in the built environment, thereby compensating for residual emissions from construction projects. In this model, captured carbon is not just a byproduct but a key resource to reduce the dependency on fossil-based raw materials and meet the sustainability goals of the construction industry. It is a smart way to transform a global challenge into a tangible benefit.
Innovative Use of Biochar
One of the tools used in ecoLocked’s strategy is biochar – a stable carbonaceous material resulting from the most cost-efficient and mature carbon removal technology, known as Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR). Biochar’s role in this context is unique: it is integrated into concrete products, enhancing properties such as strength and durability. This isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about innovatively rethinking what construction materials can do. Biochar-based applications are not only sustainable but also boost the performance of concrete – a win-win situation… and a leap towards optimized carbon capture through everyday building practices.
Building the Largest Human-Made Carbon Sink
With ecoLocked Materials®, concrete structures become the largest human-made carbon sink. Imagine turning everyday buildings into permanent repositories for captured carbon! The technology advocates for turning the construction industry’s reliance on concrete into an environmental asset. Products are meticulously engineered to meet specific performance characteristics – from strength and durability to weight reduction and thermal insulation. These unique features provide a double benefit: reducing the environmental footprint while ensuring that new standards for construction safety and efficiency are met. There is something appealing about this blend of green tech with industrial application – a refreshing change driven by the urgency of climate action.
Exploring Novel Applications in Construction
By creating novel applications for biochar in construction materials, ecoLocked not only offers solutions for fierce climate challenges but also paves the way towards the global scale-up of biochar carbon removal. The transition to using biogenic carbon extracted from local biomass residues means a fresh perspective on resource utilization, combining local benefits with global impacts. Each product, including the innovative eLM Zero for climate-neutral concrete now available in Europe, is designed to further reduce the reliance on conventional materials while sequestering CO2 in innovative ways. The construction industry can now reap multiple benefits with every project, addressing both environmental responsibilities and performance requirements.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – through transformative construction materials that boost industry sustainability.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – by turning urban concrete structures into long-lasting carbon sinks.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – with a focus on reducing raw material use and promoting efficient, low-carbon alternatives.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – by contributing to global efforts in capturing gigatons of carbon and reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Future Outlook
ecoLocked is turning challenges into opportunities, and it is doing so with an ambitious vision for a climate-friendly built environment. By repurposing captured carbon, the construction industry is invited to reimagine earth’s most consumed material in a way that benefits both the planet and people. The project’s dynamic approach, using reliable and proven carbon removal technologies like BCR, is setting the stage for a future where concrete does more than just support structures – it supports a greener world. The blend of innovation, local biomass utilization, and state-of-the-art product engineering means that every construction project has the potential to contribute to a larger, global carbon mitigation strategy… and that is a bold step in modern sustainable development.
