Technology development company C-Crete Technologies has debuted its cement-free concrete in a commercial building project in Seattle, US.

The environmentally friendly alternative to conventional Portland cement claims to emit close to zero CO₂ during its manufacture and can also absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere over time.

An estimated one tonne of CO₂ emissions will be avoided for every tonne of C-Crete's binder that substitutes Portland cement.

Additionally, the product is made using a range of natural minerals and industrial by-products, assuring a sufficient feedstock.

Approximately 60t of this cement-free concrete was used in the foundations and shear walls of the 7200 Woodlawn project in Seattle, a redevelopment of a 120-year-old historic brick structure using concrete as part of a seismic retrofit.

The concrete has a loading strength of roughly 5,000psi², more than the ASTM standard of approximately 4,000psi for most residential, commercial, and infrastructure concrete applications.

It also meets other significant industry standards with its durability and can be used alongside conventional concrete admixtures, enabling easy integration into existing construction methods.

C-Crete founder and president Rouzbeh Savary said: “We are thrilled to introduce our cement-free concrete, a game-changer in sustainable construction.

“Our binder is a drop-in replacement for Portland cement that drastically reduces carbon emissions. Given that our product meets industry standards and has cost-parity with conventional concrete, it opens up an entirely new era in construction.”

German-based building materials company Heidelberg Materials delivered the cement-free concrete for the Seattle project.