Sustainability
Our green
credentials
Cement, redefined
Join us as we build on cement’s 5000-year history, pushing the boundaries of innoation to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond.
Ancient beginnings
The first lime mortar
Various civilisations discovered lime mortar independently. Egyptian engineers used it in the pyramids’ construction, while the Indus Valley civilisation used it to build large, communal structures like the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro.
Greek discovery
Pozzolanic cement
The Greeks discovered pozzolans—volcanic ash that, when mixed with lime and water, creates a durable cement. This early form of hydraulic cement was used for constructing buildings and infrastructure.
Roman innovation
Industrial use of pozzolans
The Romans perfected the use of pozzolans, mixing volcanic ash from regions like Pozzuoli (the origin of the name) with lime to produce cement that remained durable for millennia. Concrete structures like the Pantheon and aqueducts remain standing today. Roman engineers fine-tuned their cement for different applications, such as creating marine concrete for harbours.
Middle Ages and Renaissance
Builders lost the knowledge of concrete making after the fall of the western Roman Empire. Instead, they reverted to using stone, brick, and lime mortar for construction.
Ordinary Portland cement
Joseph Aspdin’s innovation
British builder, Joseph Aspdin patented Portland cement, named for its resemblance to Portland stone, produced by heating limestone and clay in a kiln. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) became the standard for modern construction materials because of its strength and versatility
The carbon challenge
OPC’s environmental impact
Producing OPC creates more carbon-emissions than almost any other industry, with about one tonne of CO2e emitted for each tonne of cement produced. The industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and the nature of the calcination process drives these emissions.
Mevo’s breakthrough
Cement’s new ultra-low-carbon era
Mevo’s pioneering alkali fusion processes, supported by sophisticated AI, produce ultra-low-carbon cement on an industrial scale. By leveraging advanced chemical processes and utilising industrial byproducts, Mevo‘s cement is tweaked for each project, providing specialised solutions on an industrial scale for a sustainable future.
Our approach
How we’re meeting the sustainability challenge
The challenge
The world is growing fast, and the push for bigger cities and more infrastructure is stronger than ever. Yet, while construction demand soars, the materials we use haven’t kept up. Traditional concrete, a cornerstone of modern society, is not only energy-intensive but also a major source of CO2 emissions—accounting for 8% of all emissions worldwide. What’s more, it often lacks the durability and flexibility needed for a sustainable future.
Our solution
Mevo tackles these challenges head-on. As the construction industry faces growing pressure to reduce its environmental impact, simply tweaking old methods isn’t enough. We must rethink concrete from first principles to improve performance, reduce emissions and enable the circular economy.
We’re leveraging cutting-edge technology, advanced chemistry and a deep commitment to sustainability to develop new cement formulations that are stronger, longer-lasting and significantly less harmful to the planet.
We are on track to save
1 gigaton of CO2 by 2040
8%
of global emissions come from the cement industry—World Economic Forum
80%
of concrete emissions come from cement production—World Resources Institute
2nd
Cement is the second-most used commodity after water—MIT
Up to 85% less carbon, no heat needed
Our proprietary alkali fusion technology eliminates the need for heat, massively slashing energy consumption. This innovation cuts CO2 emissions to just 144-196 kg of CO2e emitted per tonne—an up to 85% reduction compared to traditional cement.
Circular economy, powered by waste
We transform industrial waste into valuable raw materials, reducing the need for virgin resources and keeping waste out of landfills. By using multiple industrial feedstocks, we ensure a resilient, sustainable supply chain.
Stronger, longer-lasting performance
Our cement supports more durable structures that require fewer repairs and rebuilds, cutting lifecycle emissions and ensuring long-term sustainability.
AI-driven innovation
We harness artificial intelligence to optimise feedstocks, enhancing performance while continuously reducing emissions. The result? Stronger, more durable materials, delivered sustainably.
Scaling quickly: UK’s largest low-carbon cement producer
As the biggest producer of low-carbon cement in the UK, with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes annually at our first factory, we’re leading the charge toward a greener future.
News and insights
Concrete thoughts
Read the latest news and insights from Material Evolution (Mevo).
