Building the roads of the future with CO₂ enriched granules in the base layers

Across Europe, the UK, and the US, governments are committing billions to modernize road networks. But if we want to reach our climate goals, it's crucial not only to think about what we build but also how we build.

At neustark, we believe there’s a game-changing opportunity hiding in plain sight: demolished concrete.

Traditionally, the granules from demolished concrete are widely reused in road construction – primarily as filler material in the base layers. It’s a well-established practice that already contributes to a circular economy. But what if those same granules could do more than provide structural support – what if they could permanently store CO₂?

Thanks to neustark’s carbon removal technology, they can.

Neustark’s process takes concrete granules and enriches them with biogenic CO₂. Through a natural chemical reaction known as mineralization, the CO₂ is transformed into limestone and is permanently bound to the surface and into the pores of the granules. The result is a carbon sink – a construction material that doesn’t just reduce waste but actively removes CO₂ from the atmosphere.

And it's not just a future vision – it’s already possible today.

Take the UK as an example. If carbonated recycled concrete aggregates were used in two of the country’s upcoming major infrastructure projects – the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route and the Lower Thames Crossing – it could result in the permanent storage of more than 19,000 tons of CO₂. That’s equivalent to the annual CO₂ capture potential of roughly one million growing fir trees.

The impact doesn’t stop at the UK border. Countries worldwide are facing the same challenge: how to meet infrastructure demands while delivering on climate targets. As emissions from road construction continue to rise, we need smarter materials and a rethink of procurement policies to prioritize solutions like our mineralization technology and others.

Imagine if CO₂ enriched recycled concrete granules became the standard for road base layers – wherever access and logistics allow. With demolished concrete being the world’s largest waste stream by volume, transforming this single material into a carbon sink could create massive environmental impact.

By embedding carbon removal into the infrastructure we all rely on, we can future-proof our roads, support a circular economy, and make meaningful progress on national and global emissions. Thanks to our mineralization technology, we no longer need to choose between performance and sustainability.

The challenge is clear. The technology exists. Now it’s time for policymakers, infrastructure leaders, and industry innovators to build roads that lead us closer to net zero.