Hong Kong first introduces CarbonCure "carbon-absorbing concrete" to reduce cement carbon emissions, with the Central Land upgrade project taking the lead

The local construction industry is continuously adopting low-carbon materials to promote green engineering. Recently, it has taken a further step by introducing "carbon capture" concrete for the first time. Contractor Kimmon Construction has collaborated with Canadian decarbonization technology company CarbonCure to reduce overall concrete carbon emissions by approximately 4 to 7% through "mineralization" technology, while also being able to "absorb carbon." The first project application is in the large-scale upgrade of the Central project by the same group. Low-carbon raw materials replace part of the cement with higher strength Cement is the main culprit of carbon emissions in building materials, accounting for over 90% of the carbon footprint during the concrete production process. Through CarbonCure's patented low-carbon concrete formula, its blast furnace slag powder achieves a 34% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional concrete, allowing for the replacement of part of the cement raw materials. For every cubic meter of concrete, CarbonCure materials can replace 10 kilograms of traditional cement raw materials, equivalent to a reduction of 4 to 7% in cement and related carbon emissions; at the same time, CarbonCure's carbon capture characteristics can additionally absorb 0.24 kilograms of carbon emissions. Furthermore, this "carbon-absorbing concrete" is also 10% stronger than regular concrete. Concrete "mineralization" achieves carbon capture Xie Zhixuan explained that the characteristics of "carbon-absorbing concrete" come from the mineralization process during the early production of cement, which seals carbon dioxide within the building materials, reducing its release into the air. He further stated that the carbon dioxide comes from waste from the petrochemical industry in mainland China, which is pressurized by suppliers to form a liquid, and then processed by Kimmon. "The 'carbon capture' is done by the suppliers, and we are responsible for 'utilization.' It is better to utilize it first to open up the market than to take (carbon dioxide) for storage." New technology ensures construction quality, long-term testing finally approved In fact, the introduction of "carbon-absorbing concrete" in Hong Kong has also gone through numerous hurdles. Zhu Jiaxin, assistant technical manager of Kimmon Construction Group, pointed out that although CarbonCure's technology has been implemented in various countries for many years, its application in Hong Kong is a first. The group and the developer underwent 18 months of testing and continuous communication with government departments to clarify doubts, proving that it does not affect the structural integrity and quality of building materials, and finally received approval from the Buildings Department for use in September last year. The developer partners with Kimmon for renovation projects with lower carbon building materials Kimmon Construction and the developer are both under the Jardine Group. The introduction of CarbonCure technology is also jointly promoted by both parties and is first applied in the "Tomorrow's CENTRAL" large-scale renovation project. Wu Meiling, assistant general manager of the developer's engineering department, pointed out that the project had already commenced during the building material approval period and only adopted "carbon-absorbing concrete" in November last year. Currently, there is still about 7% of concrete demand for the overall project, and they are striving for full application, including for general partition walls and fire escape stairs, "with no difference in use compared to regular concrete." Wu Meiling also stated that the project has already fully adopted low-carbon concrete, and after using "carbon-absorbing concrete," there will be an additional 20% reduction in carbon emissions at the concrete level, compared to a reduction of up to 40% in carbon emissions compared to traditional concrete The Tomorrow's CENTRAL project by Land & Buildings mainly upgrades the Land Plaza, including a doubling of the retail space for luxury brand tenants and an increase in dining space. The project aims to significantly adopt environmentally friendly building materials, including 100% use of low-carbon concrete, green rebar, and sustainable wood, and will convert at least 75% of construction waste. Proposed Expansion of Application Business Model Xie Zhixuan also stated that "carbon-absorbing concrete" plans to extend its green value chain to third parties, and has already received inquiries from some customers. Regarding the additional costs of concrete, Xie Zhixuan mentioned that it mainly involves paying patent fees to CarbonCure and purchasing carbon dioxide, but believes that overall costs will decrease once the business model matures. CarbonCure Promotes Carbon Reduction in the Concrete Industry CarbonCure is a Canadian construction technology company founded in 2012, aimed at promoting carbon reduction in the concrete industry. Through its patented technology, it has reduced over 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions to date, delivering concrete for more than 10.8 million mixer trucks. The climate technology fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures, founded by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has invested in it. The World Economic Forum cites research indicating that the global cement manufacturing industry generates 1.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, accounting for about 8% of global carbon emissions. "If cement were treated as a country, it would be the third or fourth largest emitter globally." The Hong Kong Construction Industry Council pointed out that buildings in Hong Kong account for about 71% of the city's carbon emissions, with the construction industry alone contributing about 3.7%. Academic research also shows that primary construction materials such as concrete and rebar account for 90% of upfront carbon emissions, far exceeding emissions during construction