Neustark and Fehr join forces to revolutionize the concrete industry in Alsace

The Swiss leader in carbon dioxide removal and the Alsatian family business, which specializes in ready-mix concrete and precast elements, are launching the first permanent storage site for CO₂ in recycled concrete in Alsace.

• Neustark and Fehr are inaugurating the first commercial CO₂ storage plant in Alsace.
• The site in Bischwiller can permanently store 1,200 metric tons of biogenic CO₂ per year in demolition concrete, creating significant negative emissions.
• This facility, which will be operational in the summer of 2025, will join neustark's 29 sites currently in operation, demonstrating the continuing acceleration in the deployment of its mineralization technology across Europe.

Neustark, a pioneer in carbon dioxide removal through its capture and permanent storage in mineral waste, and Fehr, a family-owned Alsatian company specializing in the production of ready-mix concrete and prefabricated elements, are unveiling their first site in Alsace enabling biogenic CO₂ to be permanently stored in demolition concrete and residual water.

This new site, with an annual storage capacity of 1,200 metric tons of CO₂, represents a major step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry in France.

The synergy between the two companies is unique: Fehr, renowned for its innovation in the sector, is ideally placed to integrate neustark's solutions. Launched in autumn 2024, this partnership marks a crucial stage in the transformation of the concrete industry, combining modernization and sustainability. The shared goal is to store CO₂ in Fehr's recycled construction materials, using neustark's innovative technologies.

"Neustark and Fehr share a common vision of creating a positive environmental impact. Fehr is one of the pioneers of sustainable construction materials in France. Our strategic partnership allows us to deploy our innovative and immediately available technology, offering a local alternative to underground or subsea storage of CO₂. We are proud to announce our new operational site, the first in Alsace" states Valentin Gutknecht, co-founder and co-CEO of neustark.

"It is crucial that construction projects now favor materials such as carbonated recycled concrete. By choosing these materials, the construction industry can actively contribute to the fight against climate change while recovering demolition waste."

Producing low-carbon concrete using neustark technology

Specifically, Fehr has chosen to invest in two technologies developed by neustark: one for the carbonation of residual water and the other for the carbonation of recycled concrete aggregates. These solutions meet their ambitions to produce low-carbon concrete while developing new products.

The CO₂ captured at a nearby biogas plant during biomethane production is transported to the Fehr production facility. There, it is injected into the demolition material, where it is mineralized within hours, accelerating a natural process that usually takes decades. In addition, neustark has developed a solution for treating the residual water generated during concrete manufacture: the CO₂ is injected directly into the residual water, where it reacts with suspended mineral particles to form stable carbonates. This process not only allows the CO₂ to be stored permanently, but also reduces the costs associated with disposing of this residual water.

A major environmental challenge for an entire industry

Every year, demolition concrete generates more than a billion metric tons of waste worldwide, including 50 million metric tons in France. The neustark technology transforms this waste into a carbon sink, helping to tackle climate change while adding value to recycled construction materials. Each metric ton of demolished concrete can store 10 kg of CO₂.

In France, this innovation would allow the sequestering of around 500,000 metric tons of CO₂ in demolition concrete, offering an innovative, immediately available alternative to underground storage. This reliable and economically viable solution already offers a local alternative to underground CO₂ storage at sea while helping to create the negative emissions crucial to achieving our climate targets.

"We chose neustark's innovative technology because it integrates perfectly with our on-site concrete recycling and production process. This collaboration allows us not only to add value to our materials and achieve our ecological objectives but also to develop a truly green sector in the construction industry," explains Laurent Fehr, FEHR Group Development Director.

"By storing the first metric tons of CO₂ permanently in demolition concrete in Alsace, we are taking an important step towards a circular economy. In addition, our partnership is based on shared values of sustainability and innovation, reinforced by a human relationship founded on transparency and trust. This will also allow us to generate additional revenue while making a positive contribution to the environment."

The opening of this site in Alsace is part of neustark's rapid expansion strategy, which aims to remove permanently one million metric tons of CO₂ by 2030. With 29 carbon capture and storage sites already in operation and a further 30 in the planning and construction phase, neustark is demonstrating its commitment to accelerating the permanent CO₂ removal from the atmosphere on a European scale.

This announcement follows the introduction of neustark's technology on the French market in December 2024, in partnership with Lafarge, marking an important step in the deployment of innovative carbon capture solutions in France.

The two companies see this collaboration as the start of a long and fruitful relationship, with the ambition to continue innovating and offering even greener solutions, thus contributing to the sustainable transformation of the construction industry.

Demolition concrete is our carbon ‘sink’. You have the demolition concrete – we have the technology to add on. Learn more about how you can team up with us and turn the decarbonization of construction into an opportunity for your business.

About Fehr

A producer committed to providing mineral and ecological solutions to Europe for the renovation and construction of the buildings of the future, FEHR has been an independent family business since 1960, with 10 plants in Eastern France and 4 production sites for prefabricated elements.

Visionary and responsible, the FEHR Group stands out for its commitment to the environment, its tailor-made service and its technological expertise in off-site solutions. The group specializes in the production of ready-mix concrete and prefabricated elements in Europe. Its future-oriented approach aims to offer high-quality, sustainable building solutions, making its mark on the industry while contributing to protecting the environment.

www.fehrgroup.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fehr-groupe-sas