Biomason

Revolutionising construction with biotechnology

Concrete is the most abundant manufactured material on earth, providing the foundations for many of the world’s rapidly growing cities. But the production of concrete comes at a high environmental cost. Manufacturing cement generates around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 per year— which is about 8% of the global total emissions, and twice as much as global aviation.

It requires the use of long rotating kilns the length of two football pitches, which are heated to around 1,500°C. The chemical process which turns the raw materials of limestone and clay into cement burns off large amounts of CO2 which are released into the atmosphere unless they are captured at source.

 Biotech startup Biomason are taking inspiration from nature to produce an alternative building material which doesn’t have the emissions associated with traditional cement production. Their pioneering biocement is inspired by marine organisms which build shells and other enduring structures like coral from calcium carbonate without the need for high temperatures or carbon emissions.

 This fusion of biology and innovation points the way to a new era of construction which does not have the massive carbon footprint associated with many of the building materials used over the last hundred years.

With thanks to:

Michael Dosier, CTO & Co-Founder, Biomason

Ginger Krieg Dosier, CEO & President, Biomason

Lauren Donnelly, Head of CDPC, Biomason

For more information on Biomason, visit their website https://biomason.com/