Reclinker secures £10m to scale demolition concrete recycling

The company says the process is expected to reduce cement-related emissions by approximately 50% and points to potential further reductions as the technology scales, at cost parity with conventional cement.

The proprietary technology was developed at the University of Cambridge. It recovers cement paste from demolition concrete and converts it into clinker – the key ingredient in cement – using electric arc furnaces already employed in steel recycling.

Reclinker said that to date thousands of tonnes have been produced at 7 Steel UK’s Cardiff plant, with initial commercial sales secured.

The £10 million investment is led by Clean Growth Fund and AP Ventures, with Development Bank of Wales and existing investors including Zero Carbon Capital and Cambridge Enterprise.

CEO Bill Yost (third from the right) with the Reclinker team (Image: Reclinker)

The new funding will support increased production in Cardiff and replication across additional electric arc furnace sites in Europe and the US. This in turn will bring more skilled green jobs to the area, according to Reclinker.

CEO Bill Yost commented, “This oversubscribed round sends a strong signal that UK investors are serious about decarbonisation. We are particularly glad this investment will support the growth of green industries in Wales.”

“Reclinker has demonstrated how existing steel recycling infrastructure can help unlock a lower-carbon future for cement production, creating both environmental and economic benefits as the technology scales,” added Gabriella Nizam, head of sustainability and public affairs at 7 Steel UK.