Not many people know that the Portland cement (OPC) component of concrete has a very high impact on the planet due to the process of making clinker which requires a lot of burning. For this reason, cement alternatives in concrete have become a ‘holy grail’ in the quest to reduce the carbon expense of producing it – but there’s no reason to wait as the technology is already here in the form of cement alternatives such as Cemfree.
Cemfree is an award-winning, pioneering and sustainable cement alternative that can save up to 88% of embodied CO2 in a build project whether it be a complex construction development, a sensitive renovation, a natural swimming pond or a project where a customer demands solid environmental credentials for their home or farm.
This is why leading volumetrics and RMC concrete supplier in the South East, Axtell Ltd, has recently opted for an entire 100-tonne silo of Cemfree which they will base at their Southampton site, for distribution to their customers ranging from South London to the south coast.
Proprietor, Andrew Axtell, says “We’ve demo’d the product and for us, it’s a no-brainer – it’s just a matter of making the right choice in the context of a bigger environmental issue especially since all other features of Cemfree stack up just as well as traditional products do – plus Cemfree is better for rural applications as it’s more chemical-resistant and therefore, more durable.”
“We’re keen to offer this low-carbon cement alternative as part of our various offerings as we know that this is definitely the future, not just for larger construction companies but also smaller firms where clients tend to demand a higher spec and greener credentials.”
“We routinely supply Surrey, West Sussex, Hampshire, etc, out of our Southampton depot and there is no difference to installation and delivery infrastructure, so we didn’t have to make any changes to our existing set up.”
Tony Sheridan, DB Group’s Commercial Manager, adds, “We’re excited that Axtell has chosen to become a Cemfree supplier for the South of England. Cemfree is a game changer for those working in today’s construction industry concerned with reducing their CO2 footprint and it’s great to see the level of faith our suppliers have in the product to purchase the kind of quantity that Axtell has taken. With carbon footprint and sustainability issues now centre-stage with businesses and people in general, we’re hoping that more construction companies embrace the technology which is already here, and ready-mixed.
Cemfree behaves just like traditional cement both in the way it pours and every aspect of how it’s delivered and pumped. It is just a dry powder that allows concrete to set and as a result, the concrete is also more durable as its cracking risk is lower than with ordinary concrete.
