Posts in the Category: David Hughes
Middlesbrough, UK (4 September 2023): MATERIAL Evolution, the UK’s biggest producer of low carbon cement, has appointed professor David Hughes as its new chief scientific officer (CSO).
With extensive experience in leading scientific advancement within heavy industry and trade applications, David, who is also the co-lead of the Mevocrete project, will help spearhead the firm’s efforts to decarbonise the building materials industry, with a primary focus on the development and scaling of low-carbon cement technologies.
David is also Associate Dean for Research & Innovation at Teesside University, where he leads the cross-institutional NetZero research theme and Circular Economy and Recycling Innovation Centre (CERIC). He is also the Chair of the national IOM3 Polymer Group and sits on a number of government steering groups related to plastic and cement circularity.
An expert in the circular economy and industrial digitalisation, David’s appointment comes at a critical juncture in Material Evolution’s journey, as it prepares to roll out its pioneering ultra-low carbon cement into production at its first production-scale manufacturing site in Wrexham.
The move is set to establish Material Evolution as the biggest producer of low carbon cement in the UK, manufacturing at scale a product that delivers up to 85% less embodied CO2 than traditional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), while maintaining its quality and workability.
Alongside the company’s team of scientists and experts, David will help accelerate the firm’s goal of removing one gigaton of CO2 by 2040.
David said: “This is a really exciting time as innovators and developers across the built environment examine ways to accelerate a collective journey to a net zero future. What Material Evolution is doing is tackling head on one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions worldwide with a product that can really transform our built environment.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to link up with a likeminded team of collaborators, scientists and consultants here at Material Evolution, who all share the same ambition to make a difference to the world around us. Cement is just the start of our journey, and we look forward to examining new materials and processes that will make a big impact on our everyday lives.”
David’s appointment will be key to help pushing the boundaries of Material Evolution’s geopolymer low carbon cement technology, and reinforces its commitment to being at the forefront of green innovation and materials.
For more information on how Material Evolution can help your construction project, contact us today.