When CO2 Becomes Concrete Gold

Startups are embedding captured CO2 into concrete, turning emissions into building materials and creating new markets for carbon capture

5 Mar 2026

Investment is rising in technologies that use captured carbon dioxide in cement and concrete, as developers seek to turn a costly waste stream into a commercial raw material.

The approach reflects a broader shift in the carbon capture industry. Capturing emissions alone often depends on policy incentives or carbon credits. Converting the gas into building materials offers the possibility of a direct product market while reducing emissions in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries.

Cement production accounts for roughly 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. As governments and companies push for lower-emission infrastructure, construction materials are emerging as an early application for carbon utilisation technologies.

Several startups are developing processes that inject captured CO₂ into concrete during curing, the stage when the material hardens. The gas reacts with minerals in the mixture and becomes permanently locked into the material, while also reducing the amount of traditional cement required.

Finland-based Carbonaide is among the companies drawing investor attention. The group raised €3.7mn in January 2026 to expand its CO₂-curing technology. By mineralising carbon dioxide inside the concrete, the company says producers can lower both emissions and production costs.

Analysts say such approaches could alter the economics of carbon capture projects. If captured CO₂ becomes a feedstock for manufacturing, developers may generate revenue from materials markets rather than relying mainly on subsidies.

The model is also influencing the design of large carbon capture facilities. Companies including Deep Sky are developing capture hubs intended to supply CO₂ for both permanent storage and industrial uses. The goal is to create integrated supply chains linking capture infrastructure with manufacturers seeking lower-carbon inputs.

Demand signals are strengthening as climate targets tighten and public infrastructure spending increases in many economies.

However, researchers caution that carbon utilisation is unlikely to absorb more than a small share of global emissions compared with geological storage. Scaling new construction materials across the fragmented global building sector may also take time.

Even so, the use of captured carbon in concrete is emerging as one of the clearest commercial pathways for the carbon capture industry.