Concrete plans for a greener Teesside

A recycling company is helping to cut carbon emissions in the construction sector with the development of a new “pioneering” low-carbon building material.

Family-run Scott Bros, which is headquartered at Haverton Hill, near Stockton, has unveiled a £1 million concrete plant that uses a sustainable by-product to reduce reliance on carbon-heavy cement.

Working with Teesside University’s School of Science, Engineering & Digital Technologies, the firm, which received a grant of £612,000 from Innovate UK, has replaced up to 25 per cent of traditional binding agent Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with ‘activated filter cake’, a clay-like material recovered from the firm’s wash plants.

Peter Scott, director of Scott Bros, said: “Achieving a 25 per cent reduction in OPC is a significant milestone in our mission to create more sustainable construction materials. 

“We're continuing our work with Teesside University to explore further opportunities for innovative, low-carbon alternatives using recycled waste. 

“Our long-term ambition is to eliminate OPC entirely and produce concrete made solely from recycled and sustainable materials.”

Joss Newberry, operating and monitoring officer for Innovate UK, added: “Two key aspects of this project really stood out. 

“The first is the urgent need to decarbonise the economy, and the second is Scott Bros’ expertise in the recycling sector, strengthened by its long-standing partnership with Teesside University. 

“It’s fantastic to see the concrete plant nearing commercial production – a great example of how the innovative use of waste materials is helping drive progress towards net-zero goals.”

Following a commissioning phase, the plant is now producing concrete blocks and is set to begin full-scale output in May, with capacity to manufacture more than 480 cubic metres per day using recycled aggregates.

Research is continuing to explore even greater reductions in OPC content, as Scott Bros and the university develop further eco-friendly alternatives.

Professor David Hughes, associate dean (research and innovation) at Teesside University’s School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, added: “This new facility marks a major milestone in the journey from academic research to real-world application. 

“It’s the culmination of seven years of collaboration with Scott Bros, transforming waste materials into valuable, low-carbon construction products. 

“Together, we’re helping to build a more sustainable future – one where innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.”

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