Biomason
Author: Nick Owens
The Problem:
Concrete has played a crucial role in shaping the modern built environment. We use an estimated 30 billion tonnes of it each year. Our dependence on concrete has emerged due to its affordability, versatility and durability. However, these benefits also come at a significant cost to the environment. This single material accounts for at least 8% of global CO2 emissions. To put that into perspective, the entire aviation industry is responsible for roughly 2.4–3.7% of global emissions.
Producing concrete requires a mix of water, sand, and cement, with the latter being the primary source of concrete’s emissions. Cement production involves a resource-intensive process that heats clay and limestone to over 1,400°C, consuming large amounts of fossil fuels. These high temperatures break down limestone (calcium carbonate), releasing an estimated 600 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for each tonne of cement produced.
The Solution:
Enter Biomason, a startup offering a revolutionary low-carbon alternative to traditional cement production. Inspired by the biotechnology that makes coral resilient and strong, the company has developed a method of concrete production that eliminates the need to burn limestone.
Biomason achieves this impressive feat by essentially “growing” bricks, saving tonnes of carbon emissions in the process. Production of Biocement begins by combining specially bioengineered bacterial spores with gravel, sand, and nutrients. This method enables the formation of calcium carbonate (the same mineral found in coral and limestone), which forms a strong and durable structure around the gravel and sand to produce high-quality concrete.
The beauty of this process is that it traps carbon within the bricks and eliminates the need for high temperatures, as all bonding reactions between the bacteria and materials occur at room temperature. Overall, Biomason leverages biological processes to create concrete with 90% less carbon emissions compared to traditional methods.
Impact and Lessons:
To date, Biomason has delivered projects across the US, Denmark, and Sweden and has two projects planned for completion this year in London and Aarhus, Denmark. The company is headquartered in North Carolina and operates a “Biobeton” (bioconcrete) factory in Ikast, Denmark. This factory represents a monumental step forward for sustainable materials technology and has been fully operational since its qualification in 2023. Developed in partnership with IBF, Denmark’s largest producer of precast concrete, the factory has adapted traditional industrial equipment to facilitate the biocementation process, allowing Biomason concrete to be produced on an industrial scale.
Biomason recently secured a major contract with clothing giant H&M to begin scaling their technology and provide biocement flooring in stores internationally, positioning the company to lead a new era of sustainable construction.
Biomason’s continued success highlights the value of drawing inspiration from nature to address our most pressing challenges. The company demonstrates that even time-honoured manufacturing methods can and should be reimagined as we work towards a more sustainable future.