Neustark puts into operation Belgium's first CO₂-storage site together with Devagro

• Neustark, pioneer in storing CO₂ in mineral waste streams and Devagro, specialist in sustainable construction, high-quality concrete solutions, innovative recycling, and soil remediation inaugurate the first storage site in Benelux
• The site will be able to permanently store 1,500t of carbon dioxide per year in demolished concrete
• The CO₂ enriched material will be reused either in recycled concrete or as material for the base layers of roads

Together with innovator Devagro, neustark is driving forward the decarbonization of the construction sector and is commissioning the first plant for permanent CO₂ storage in demolished concrete in the Benelux region. Located in Desselgem in West Flanders, the site will be able to store 1,500t of CO₂ per year.

How neustark’s solution works

CO₂ from nearby biogas plants is captured and transported to Devagro's recycling site where the neustark technology is integrated into the existing workflow. There, the carbon dioxide is injected into the granulate of demolished concrete from demolition sites as an additive to the existing recycling process. This triggers an accelerated mineralization process and permanently binds the CO₂ to the pores and the surface of the granulate. Because the CO₂ is biogenic and remains locked away for hundreds of thousands of years, the method generates negative emissions which are an essential contribution to achieving climate targets.

A strategic investment

Investing in this technology is part of Devagro's broader strategy to be at the forefront of a more sustainable construction industry. “At Devagro, we have long believed in the power of innovation, preferably in technologies with a favorable, directly measurable environmental impact”, says Yves Degezelle, CEO of Devagro. “This investment demonstrates that at Devagro, we see challenges as opportunities and we dare to take responsibility by financing this technology with 100% of our own resources, which is not self-evident in these economically challenging times. We are proud to introduce this CO₂-storage technology in Belgium, together with neustark, paving the way for a more sustainable construction sector.”

Integrating the technology in the existing process enables Devagro to make their products even more sustainable by storing CO₂ in their demolition granulates. “We'll use our ECO₂Box to improve the level of circularity in our daily operations. That can be through re-use in fresh, ready-mixed concrete or even for lower quality subbase applications”, says Lars Rius, Business Coordinator Innovation. “Our vision is to try to improve the, already high, quality of our circular granulates in any innovative way possible. We can see early signs from within the market that our latest investment is highly appreciated.”

Strengthening neustark’s presence in Europe

With this collaboration, neustark is taking an important step in the Benelux region. “After expanding into several European markets over the past two years, we are excited to now establish a presence in Belgium together with a pioneer like Devagro. This partnership will help us further scale our climate impact.” says Johannes Tiefenthaler, co-founder and co-CEO of neustark. The Swiss based company neustark is now present in eight different countries with a total of 44 CO₂ capture and storage sites.