Heidelberg Materials continues to develop and scale circular technologies by investing in EnviCore, an innovative clean-tech startup based in Canada. Together, they will focus on increasing the use of recycled construction and demolition waste (CDW) to save valuable resources as part of Heidelberg Materials’ commitment to strengthen the circularity of its products.
EnviCore has developed proprietary technology for reprocessing construction and demolition waste (CDW) into supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) using a dry thermochemical process. SCMs are naturally occurring and industrial by-product materials that can replace part of the energy-intensive clinker in cement or concrete, allowing up to 25% replacement of ordinary Portland cement in concrete mixes.
Based on an upcoming feasibility study, the companies will decide on deploying a pilot SCM production facility near one of Heidelberg Materials’ recycling hubs. This facility will serve to validate EnviCore’s technology under industrial conditions and optimize SCM production at scale. Heidelberg Materials has also acquired a minority stake in EnviCore as part of this collaboration.
Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials, said: “Circular solutions are a key component of our sustainability strategy as an important lever to drive progress on our path to net zero. By 2030, we aim to offer circular alternatives for 50% of our concrete products, reflecting our strong commitment to building a circular and resilient future.”
Dr. Katharina Beumelburg, Chief Sustainability & New Technologies Officer and Member of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials, stated: “EnviCore’s novel approach has the potential to increase the amount of recycled materials in our products. This could reduce our need for virgin materials, contributing to preserving natural resources and protecting our environment.”
Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the transaction.
This latest investment underscores Heidelberg Materials’ leading role in closing the loop within the building materials sector. Recently, the company commissioned an innovative recycling plant for selective separation at its production site near Katowice, Poland. This first-of-its-kind facility enables sophisticated separation and sorting to fully recycle demolition concrete and substitute virgin materials in concrete production. With a capacity of up to 100 tonnes of concrete per hour, Heidelberg Materials is the first in the industry to introduce high-quality, selective concrete separation at this scale.
