Frequently asked questions
c-ton® technology and material
The c-ton® technology is distributed to manufacturers in Germany and the EU via the Concrete Innovation Group as a license model. AHE Verbundsteine Betonwaren GmbH from Rinteln an der Weser is the first manufacturer to offer a c-ton® block on the market. The c-ton® QUADRO from AHE Verbundsteine Betonwaren GmbH is available in the dimensions 200 x 300 x 80 mm. Further information can be found directly on the manufacturer's website: www.ahe-holding.de/betonwaren/c-ton
Apart from the big difference in their carbon footprint, the c-ton® products do not differ from their reference products. All c-ton® products meet the standard specifications of their product norm and are in no way inferior to their reference products in terms of processing, load and durability.
c-ton® concrete blocks are 100% recyclable and can be returned to the production process for new blocks in a closed-loop process. The technical carbon is absorbed into the product matrix and remains permanently in the new product.
Technical carbon is the term used to describe the solid carbon components that are produced during pyrolysis. When incorporated into building materials, this creates permanent carbon sinks that prevent the carbon from being released back into the atmosphere in the form of CO₂.
In other applications, the term biochar is also used.
We use biomass from sustainable forestry. The residual material streams used can no longer be used in any further (higher-value) recycling and have no additional benefit in agroforestry. Instead of being incinerated, for example, a large proportion of the material flow remains in the cycle.
Manufacturers and customers
The Concrete Innovation Group supports its licensees in adding innovative products to their product ranges and offsetting emissions within their own value chain. Licensees receive access to our know-how, support with technical implementation and acquire the rights to use the brand and technology. Further information can be found at https://www.concrete-innovation-group.com/partner/
Our aim is to neutralize the unavoidable residual emissions from the product. The certificates issued as a result of avoiding CO₂ are retired. They are not traded and cannot offset third-party emissions or emissions from our own company.
Verification of the sink by recognized partners prevents double counting.
The use of c-ton® products can optimize the carbon footprint of construction projects and reduce Scope 3* emissions (EPD in progress). Emission-neutral products can support the achievement of neutrality targets and sustainability strategies and enable easier access to funding.
*Scope 3 includes all indirect emissions that arise within the value chain of a company or product.
Carbon sink technology
Biochar permanently stores carbon and prevents it from being released into the atmosphere as CO₂. Biochar is produced during pyrolysis. It has a wide range of uses, from agricultural to industrial applications. When used as technical carbon in building materials, it creates permanent carbon sinks.
In order to achieve net zero emissions and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, CO₂ must be removed from the atmosphere and captured permanently. This process is known as carbon dioxide removal (CDR) or negative emissions. Permanent storage can be achieved in underground geological formations, biomass, oceanic reservoirs or long-lasting products such as building materials. The technologies behind this are referred to as negative emissions technologies (NET) or carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.
Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) refers to carbon capture and storage based on biochar. BCR is a negative emissions technology (NET) recognized by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). It is one of the already available and proven CO₂ removal and storage methods and is one of the key technologies for meeting the planetary boundaries.
A carbon sink does not mean the "sinking" of emissions, but the permanent binding of CO₂ or carbon. In our case, by adding technical carbon to building materials. A permanent sink is created because the carbon cannot escape again and cannot bind with oxygen to form CO₂.
The CO₂ absorbed by plants during their lifetime is split into oxygen and carbon through photosynthesis. In the pyrolysis process, the organic carbon from plant residues is converted into solid "permanent" and gaseous carbon. The solid parts are permanently fixed as technical carbon, e.g. in building materials. This almost completely prevents the release of CO₂ back into the atmosphere. The additional excess pyrolysis gas produced during pyrolysis can be used as renewable, CO₂-neutral energy.
Offsetting CO₂ emissions in the core business
We undertake to provide evidence of 100% offsetting for every c-ton® product. All our manufacturers have the calculation of the emission quantity verified externally. Depending on the level of emissions of the reference product of the respective manufacturer, the absolute amount of compensation may vary.
The amount of CO₂ saved in each case varies depending on the recipe of the respective manufacturer's reference product.
In the pyrolysis process, biogenic waste streams are converted into solid and gaseous components and separated. The solid components are optimized using the patented c-ton® technology and incorporated into the concrete mix. The gaseous components are used as renewable energy. The conversion and subsequent permanent storage of the technical carbon in the stone prevents the carbon from binding to oxygen and avoids the CO₂ that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. This is why it is referred to as CO₂ storage, even if it is technically the carbon that is stored.
We fully offset the GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) from production and concrete input materials, including cement. To create the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration), the emissions are converted into CO₂ equivalents and reported as such. To make it easier to understand, we refer to CO₂ or GHG emissions on these pages.
By balancing GHG emissions within the production process, c-ton® products become emission-neutral. We also use the terms offsetting and neutralization interchangeably, but we refer to the balancing of GHG emissions from production and concrete input materials and not to external offsetting or certificates.
In recent years, there has been repeated criticism of offsetting emissions through compensation. The criticism relates to external offsetting of emissions outside our own value chain and a lack of transparency in the offsetting projects. Through close monitoring and verification along the entire product value chain, we guarantee maximum transparency from the residual material used to its incorporation into the c-ton® concrete products.