The high-level of CO2 emissions has been causing serious damage to the Earth’s environment, being the primary reason behind global warming. The construction industry accounts for a major chunk of the global CO2 emissions. According to a report, building and construction, together, are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world[1], with operational emissions (from energy used to heat, cool and light buildings) accounting for 28%.
As per Air Transport Action Group, cement produces more CO2 emission than the aviation industry. While the same has been unaddressed over the years, Finnish startup Betolar is changing it.
Pockets €2M funding
Finland-based Betolar has announced that it secured €2M funding in a round led by deep tech fund Voima Ventures along with participation from Taaleri Investments Ltd and Valve Ventures. Betolar is eyeing to use this investment for the commercialisation of its product across the global market. Besides this, the company is also gearing up to enter into multiple markets.
Transformation in the construction industry
Betolar, founded by Juha Leppänen in 2016, is a material tech company, which specialises in geopolymer-based and low carbon construction materials for the construction industry. The company claims to transform the construction industry by intending to replace cement with its geopolymer technology.
According to the company, geopolymer is an alternative cementitious material made by combining materials that are rich in silica and alumina, such as fly and bio ash, slags and tailings. When the right type of raw materials are mixed under correct pH conditions, a geopolymerisation process is triggered. Here, the materials form a 3D aluminosilicate network with a similar or even higher strength compared to conventional OPC (Ordinary Portland cement) based concrete.
Betolar has developed two types of binders using by-products from metal, mining and energy industries. Its solutions are available in three key application areas such as concrete products, soil stabilisation, and ready-mixed concrete.
The sustainable construction tech company uses a scalable AI-empowered alternative construction material production. This process is said to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% as compared to traditional cement. As per the company, it can reduce the necessity for virgin raw materials by using industrial side streams.
“Betolar’s technology is truly challenging the carbon footprint and quality expectations we have for the construction industry and in particular the cement or concrete being used today. Climate change is a pressing matter, and together with Betolar’s industrial partners, we are looking forward to being part of making the carbon-friendly and new circular economy based construction industry a reality. The global potential is huge, not only for Betolar but for the whole industry and circular ecosystem,” says Inka Mero, Managing Partner of Voima Ventures.
Eyes to expand into Asia
Betolar has developed and piloted its solutions with various industrial partners across Finland, Sweden and Estonia. The company operates with the aim to expand into Asia, where consumption and construction are considerably higher. For example, it claims that the cement consumption in India is twice as that of Europe citing The European Cement Association (2020).
“There has been a strong pull for low carbon construction materials in Asia and we are currently preparing our entry to multiple markets,” says the CEO of Betolar, Matti Löppönen.
Image credits: Betolar
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