Displaying items by tag: Blocks

India: Finland-based Betolar has launched its first concrete products manufactured using Geoprime on the Indian market. Geoprime is an additive designed for use in cement-free concrete production with ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). The new concrete product range consists of precast blocks, paving slabs and tiles, and is currently on display at World of Concrete India in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Betolar's India managing director Abhishek Bhattacharya said "We are happy to introduce our first products to our customers for the Indian markets. We have now moved from laboratory tests into the production phase, and can show concretely how well this solution works. It is great to hear the feedback from the concrete industry in the region to our sustainable solution. Decarbonisation of the concrete industry is a very current and important topic."

India: LafargeHolcim subsidiary ACC facilitated the construction of around 31,500 affordable homes across India through its Green Building Centres in 2020. The retail franchise offers reduced-CO₂ concrete blocks and other alternatives to traditional brick. The company uses the centres for its Mason Training Programme, which helps develop construction skills. Each Green Building Centre employs on average 30 people. Throughout the year, the company established 43 new centres, bringing its total number to 100.

Managing director and chief executive officer Sridhar Balakrishnan said, "Green Building Centres is a unique programme which aims to provide affordable housing, sanitation solutions and rural and semi-urban pavement solutions. It is a key pillar in our plan for people and communities in India. At ACC, we believe in embracing communities and working together to effect real change. Through the Mason Training Programme, we also give real opportunities to young Indians for self-development. We not only want to build our nation with sustainable building solutions but also empower the nation's youth through entrepreneurship, livelihood and skill development initiatives."

UK: SigmaRoc has launched Greenbloc, a cement-free concrete block. The product reduces emissions by 77% compared to concrete blocks produced with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), corresponding to a reduction of 1.1kg/block.

Chief executive officer Max Vermorken said, "Our Greenbloc range and brand is the brainchild of our innovation and technical teams. It addresses a key challenge in the building products industry - the embodied CO₂ in one of the most widely used building materials: the concrete block. Greenbloc is only the start of a range of sustainable alternatives to our product offering as we invest, improve, integrate and innovate."

Nepal: Ashden Environment and the United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation Forum have awarded Build Up Nepal their respective highest awards for its low-cement disaster-resistant concrete blocks. The Nepal Time newspaper has reported that the blocks contain a mix of 10% cement, 40% clay and 50% sand, all sourced from near Build Up Nepal’s Mitra Marg, Patang plant. The company has supplied its unique building materials to projects in 300 different communities, including the construction of 4500 homes. It says that the blocks, reinforced with iron rods, have a greater earthquake resistance than concrete.

Build Up Nepal said, “Interlocking brick is a highly suitable construction technology in Nepal, reducing the cost of construction as well as the carbon footprint of building a house. With this technology Nepal's houses can be stronger, more affordable and its air cleaner.”