Heidelberg Materials UK has successfully demonstrated a zero concrete waste process at its Greenwich plant in London through the implementation of a new concrete waste recycling system. The facility, located at Victoria Deep Water on the River Thames, utilizes this system to recover aggregates and cementitious fines from returned concrete for reuse in the production of new materials. Additionally, all wash water used for cleaning concrete trucks is fully recycled back into the production cycle. The Greenwich site is being developed as a strategic circular construction materials hub, supplying a variety of lower-carbon concrete options to the London market.
The demonstration of this zero concrete waste process is part of a broader investment in decarbonization and circular economy solutions. The Greenwich plant supplies specialized materials including evoZero carbon captured near-zero cement, evoBuild GGBS, limestone fines, natural pozzolans, and calcined clay. It also provides recycled crushed concrete aggregate (CCA) as a direct replacement for primary aggregates in ready-mixed concrete. To further reduce environmental impact, the site utilizes CarbonCure technology, which injects manufactured CO₂ into fresh concrete to permanently mineralize it. According to Heidelberg Materials, this process can reduce the CO₂ associated with concrete by approximately 7–11kg/m³ and allow for a 5% reduction in average cement content by improving hydration efficiency.
Daniel Clayton, concrete technical director at Heidelberg Materials UK, stated: “Our Greenwich concrete plant is a great example of our commitment to investing in innovation and decarbonising our business so that we can provide our customers with lower carbon construction materials that support the circular economy.” The facility also houses the company’s evoHub concrete training centre and a specialized laboratory where engineers, consultants, and contractors can observe these lower-carbon solutions in practice. The co-location of these research and training facilities is intended to facilitate collaboration between the company and its customers to develop further innovations in sustainable construction materials.