Frequently Asked Questions
ecoLocked's Products
What are the additional costs of using ecoLocked Materials in concrete?
Our goal is to offer ecoLocked concrete at competitive prices across all major categories. When compared to conventional concrete, there will initially be a green premium resulting from the production cost of ecoLocked Materials which, at small scale, are yet higher than those of cement and aggregates, the materials we replace. However, in comparison to concrete with equal performance across categories like durability and insulation, the green premium is already minimal and, in some cases, we can undercut the market. Market trends like CO2 price hikes, the phase-out of free emission allowances, and increasing raw material prices furthermore narrow down the mentioned gap in material production costs.
Exact prices will depend on the technical requirements of ecoLocked Materials for the specific end application as this informs the required feedstock and processing steps. Nevertheless, the green premium for ecoLocked materials in concrete ranges from 5 to 30 percent, whereas when compared to the overall project cost, it typically constitutes approximately 0.8 to 6 percent. Please reach out for more detailed information.
Is ecoLocked Materials-enhanced concrete safe for humans and the environment?
Yes, ecoLocked Materials-enhanced concrete is completely safe for humans and the environment.
From an environmental perspective, we exclusively utilize biocarbon derived from waste biomass that adheres to the REACH regulations, with limited chemical thresholds. Furthermore, our final product undergoes elution testing to ensure that no hazardous materials leach into the environment. Studies have shown that an effective approach to reducing chemical leaching from biocarbon is to solidify it using cementitious binders.
From a health and safety point of view, we ensure that our products come with the necessary industry certifications and are compliant with industry standards. In fact, research indicates potential health benefits thanks to the filtering properties of biocarbon, which enable a higher absorption of pollutants by exterior building walls.
Are your materials approved for use in concrete/ construction? In which markets?
We are currently working on obtaining EU-wide and Germany-specific certifications and approval for our products to use in concrete. The certification process varies depending on the final product, and we are collaborating closely with relevant parties and accredited laboratories.
For certain end-users, countries, and applications, we can deliver ready-to-use products without certification. In these cases, we ensure that our products' performance is in line with industry standards and customer expectations through a rigorous two-step process. First, we develop the mix design and test the performance according to applicable EN standards. Then, the product is sent to a third-party laboratory to validate the performance measurements. Alternatively, the customer can perform the tests in-house.
Does integrating ecoLocked Materials result in any functional improvements of the concrete?
Yes, depending on the application-specific recipe ecoLocked Materials have a positive impact on concrete in the following areas:
- improved freeze-thaw resistance
- increased durability and strength
- weight reduction for lightweight construction
- noise insulation
- pollutants absorption
Why can ecoLocked Materials replace a portion of cement without compromising concrete performance?
ecoLocked Materials’ core ingredient is biocarbon. We prepare and process it to provide optimum performance when integrated into concrete mix designs. There are three mechanisms by which biocarbon actively influences the mix chemistry and internal physical structure that lead to reduced cement requirements without negatively affecting final concrete durability and its structural properties (compressive and flexural strength).
1) Biocarbon‘s high internal surface area and increased water retention for delayed hydration reactions leading to an increase in hydration products, which ensures that all the cement in the mix gets activated and can act as a binder-enhancer.
2) Biocarbons containing high quantities of silica enhance the formation of solids within concrete.
3) Increased material packing density through optimized biocarbon particle size distributions to reduce the ingress of contaminants, thereby improve durability.
Which concrete applications can ecoLocked's solution be used for?
ecoLocked Materials can be customized to specific end-use applications. The implementation of our product ranges from ready-mix concrete to precast elements, including different strength classes. One of the core characteristics of ecoLocked Materials is that they are tailor-made for specific concrete applications, allowing for improved performance within the desired characteristics.
The Benefits of Working with ecoLocked Materials
I am a real estate / infrastructure developer or fund, why should I care about this?
Real estate and infrastructure developers as well as investment funds, homeowners, and the public sector have a lot to gain from requesting the use of ecoLocked Materials in their projects:
1) Enable projects to obtain sustainability certifications and increase a project’s value.
2) Easier access to cheaper “green” capital and projects eligible for subsidies by regulatory bodies.
3) You can benefit from the performance features of ecoLocked Materials-enhanced concrete, which can increase a building’s comfort and functionality (e.g., energy efficiency).
I am a construction company, why should I care about this?
The implementation of ecoLocked Materials has many advantages for construction companies and contractors:
1) As the industry shifts towards greener options, developers and the public sector are looking for players experienced in working with innovative sustainable materials.
2) Advance your ESG agenda by tackling scope 3 emissions* and presenting yourself as a frontrunner in addressing embodied carbon from materials used.
3) ecoLocked-enhanced concrete will comply with the conventional norms and standards, meaning no extra administrative effort in handling this material.
* Scope 3 emissions: Refers to indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur throughout a product's entire life cycle, including the production and transportation of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal.
I am a concrete product manufacturer, why should I care about this?
Concrete producers benefit from the using ecoLocked Materials in three ways:
1) ecoLocked provides a scalable and affordable solution to decarbonize concrete (thus avoiding costs related to carbon pricing and responding to the growing demand for green products).
2) The material can be easily integrated without having to disrupt or undergo expensive retrofitting of existing production processes.
3) The use of ecoLocked Materials allows to optimize other performance parameters of the concrete such as thermal insulation and durability.
What are the regulatory drivers behind concrete decarbonization?
It is expected that regulators will take stronger actions and introduce a global carbon tax. This tax will affect the profits of cement companies, which will need to buy emission allowances from third parties. As the number of available allowances decreases, like it is happening in the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), the cost of offsetting emissions will go up.
Why decarbonize concrete?
The concrete industry is responsible for about 8% of the world's emissions, releasing around 2.7 billion tons of CO2 each year. This pollution is expected to increase as the demand for concrete materials doubles by 2060. To reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, it is important to reduce emissions generated by the built environment, which is directly and indirectly responsible for almost ~40% of global CO2 emissions.
Climate Impact
What is insetting and when is it beneficial for the climate?
Insetting involves investing in carbon removal and storage activities within a company's own supply chain.
As long as we enable a carbon removal activity, such as BCR, offsetting and insetting are beneficial for the climate. A key advantage of insetting over offsetting is that you have higher transparency and control over the carbon removal and storage that you pay for. ecoLocked works with partners to ensure proper measurement, reporting, and verification of that carbon removal for you.
However, when you have the possibility to reduce emissions from your own (Scope 1 and 2) or your suppliers and customers (Scope 3) emissions, that should be a priority. This is why it is important that prices per ton of CO2 on the carbon market are not too low. Taking the concrete value chain as an example, the integration of captured biocarbon is possible (largely) independently of changes in production processes but should ideally be combined with the use of new cements, reduced-clinker cements and/or CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage).
How does the integration of biocarbon in concrete affect the concrete’s carbon footprint?
Storing biocarbon in concrete helps to reduce the carbon footprint of ecoLocked-enhanced concrete in three ways:
1. A CDR process is only complete with the secure and durable storage of the captured carbon in a so-called “sink”. ecoLocked’s process turns concrete into a biocarbon sink and enables concrete product manufacturers and construction project owners to fund the BCR process in the first place. Thereby, they can compensate for emissions generated by the production and processing of concrete. This process is called "insetting" as it removes and stores carbon directly in the concrete value chain, turning the building carbon-neutral or carbon-negative. In addition, the integration of biocarbon can enhance the building's own lifetime sequestration of CO2.
2. ecoLocked Materials partially replace conventional materials in the concrete mix, particularly cement clinker. By reducing the need for these emission-intensive materials, the overall CO2 footprint of the concrete is lowered.
3. The integration of ecoLocked Materials in concrete can improve functional properties, which can be leveraged to reduce operational emissions from buildings. For example, improving the thermal insulation properties of exterior walls reduces the need for heating and cooling, thus enhancing a building’s energy efficiency.
What is biocarbon and why does its production prevent CO2 emissions?
Biocarbon is a carbonaceous solid made from waste biomass (such as wood processing waste,agricultural residue, etc.), which generates CO2 emission in two ways:
- Via natural decay in forests, on farmlands, or landfills. Those emissions are largely unaccounted for, as they only partially represent anthropogenic emissions.
- Via combustion of the waste biomass by households, in biomass-fueled power stations, or on farmlands (e.g., crop residues such as corn stover and rice husks).
These emissions can be prevented by a process referred to as biochar carbon removal (BCR). The most common BCR technology is pyrolysis, whereby biomass is heated to more than 700°C without the presence of oxygen. This procedure prevents the above-mentioned emissions while keeping carbon in a stable structure for up to 1.000 years. Experts (IPCC, FAO, ICEF) estimate that “roughly 2.5 to 5.0 Gt CO2/y could be removed from the atmosphere” through biochar carbon removal.
What does Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technology mean?
CDR refers to technologies that instead of reducing anthropogenic emissions remove CO2 from the natural carbon cycle, either by enhancing natural CO2 sequestration from the atmosphere or by preventing the re-release into the atmosphere.
Carbon removal technologies are distinguished by their “permanence”, that is, by the amount of time the CO2 stays trapped. For example, afforestation is commonly considered a low-permanence technology due to the uncertainty associated with the lifetime of a tree owing to natural and human-induced risk factors. Direct Air Capture and Biocarbon Production are two examples of long-term carbon removal technologies.
Code of Conduct
Partner Policy
ecoLocked is committed to ethical and socially responsible business practices. We work with partners who share the same values and operate in accordance with ethical and environmental, social, and governance (ESG)standards. ecoLocked expects partners to minimize their environmental impact, treat employees and customers with respect, and conduct business with integrity. We believe working with ethical partners can help build a sustainable future.
How does ecoLocked ensure sustainable sourcing of waste biomass?
Sustainable sourcing of waste biomass is key to achieving positive environmental additionality with BCR. Therefore, we have developed two sourcing criteria:
1) ecoLocked uses residue (= true waste) biomass only and is committed to ensuring that biocarbon does not cannibalize other, potentially more value-adding uses of a biomass.
2) The use of waste biomass as a BCR feedstock must result in lower emissions vs. the alternative use within a relevant time frame for climate change.
Practically, this means, for example, that we shall not use biocarbon made from waste wood if that is either still usable for furniture production or could have remained in the forest ecosystem for many years without causing significant emissions.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)
ecoLocked is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We prioritize hiring and paying practices that promote equality and offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate the different needs of parents and part-time employees. Meetings are generally scheduled before 3 pm to ensure everyone can participate without compromising work-life balance. Furthermore, ecoLocked has established a process for team members to report incidents of discrimination and has selected two Ombudspersons with diverse backgrounds to provide additional support. We also ensure the accessibility of our website and social media content to people with disabilities. The effectiveness of our DE&I policy is continuously monitored through both quantitative and qualitative data.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
ecoLockeds Produkte
What are the additional costs of using ecoLocked Materials in concrete?
Our goal is to offer ecoLocked concrete at competitive prices across all major categories. When compared to conventional concrete, there will initially be a green premium resulting from the production cost of ecoLocked Materials which, at small scale, are yet higher than those of cement and aggregates, the materials we replace. However, in comparison to concrete with equal performance across categories like durability and insulation, the green premium is already minimal and, in some cases, we can undercut the market. Market trends like CO2 price hikes, the phase-out of free emission allowances, and increasing raw material prices furthermore narrow down the mentioned gap in material production costs.
Exact prices will depend on the technical requirements of ecoLocked Materials for the specific end application as this informs the required feedstock and processing steps. Nevertheless, the green premium for ecoLocked materials in concrete ranges from 5 to 30 percent, whereas when compared to the overall project cost, it typically constitutes approximately 0.8 to 6 percent. Please reach out for more detailed information.
Is ecoLocked Materials-enhanced concrete safe for humans and the environment?
Yes, ecoLocked Materials-enhanced concrete is completely safe for humans and the environment.
From an environmental perspective, we exclusively utilize biocarbon derived from waste biomass that adheres to the REACH regulations, with limited chemical thresholds. Furthermore, our final product undergoes elution testing to ensure that no hazardous materials leach into the environment. Studies have shown that an effective approach to reducing chemical leaching from biocarbon is to solidify it using cementitious binders.
From a health and safety point of view, we ensure that our products come with the necessary industry certifications and are compliant with industry standards. In fact, research indicates potential health benefits thanks to the filtering properties of biocarbon, which enable a higher absorption of pollutants by exterior building walls.
Are your materials approved for use in concrete/ construction? In which markets?
We are currently working on obtaining EU-wide and Germany-specific certifications and approval for our products to use in concrete. The certification process varies depending on the final product, and we are collaborating closely with relevant parties and accredited laboratories.
For certain end-users, countries, and applications, we can deliver ready-to-use products without certification. In these cases, we ensure that our products' performance is in line with industry standards and customer expectations through a rigorous two-step process. First, we develop the mix design and test the performance according to applicable EN standards. Then, the product is sent to a third-party laboratory to validate the performance measurements. Alternatively, the customer can perform the tests in-house.
Does integrating ecoLocked Materials result in any functional improvements of the concrete?
Yes, depending on the application-specific recipe ecoLocked Materials have a positive impact on concrete in the following areas:
- improved freeze-thaw resistance
- increased durability and strength
- weight reduction for lightweight construction
- noise insulation
- pollutants absorption
Why can ecoLocked Materials replace a portion of cement without compromising concrete performance?
ecoLocked Materials’ core ingredient is biocarbon. We prepare and process it to provide optimum performance when integrated into concrete mix designs. There are three mechanisms by which biocarbon actively influences the mix chemistry and internal physical structure that lead to reduced cement requirements without negatively affecting final concrete durability and its structural properties (compressive and flexural strength).
1) Biocarbon‘s high internal surface area and increased water retention for delayed hydration reactions leading to an increase in hydration products, which ensures that all the cement in the mix gets activated and can act as a binder-enhancer.
2) Biocarbons containing high quantities of silica enhance the formation of solids within concrete.
3) Increased material packing density through optimized biocarbon particle size distributions to reduce the ingress of contaminants, thereby improve durability.
Which concrete applications can ecoLocked solution be used for?
ecoLocked Materials can be customized to specific end-use applications. The implementation of our product ranges from ready-mix concrete to precast elements, including different strength classes. One of the core characteristics of ecoLocked Materials is that they are tailor-made for specific concrete applications, allowing for improved performance within the desired characteristics.
Vorteile der Verwendung von ecoLocked Materials
I am a real estate / infrastructure developer or fund, why should I care about this?
Real estate and infrastructure developers as well as investment funds, homeowners, and the public sector have a lot to gain from requesting the use of ecoLocked Materials in their projects:
1) Enable projects to obtain sustainability certifications and increase a project’s value.
2) Easier access to cheaper “green” capital and projects eligible for subsidies by regulatory bodies.
3) You can benefit from the performance features of ecoLocked Materials-enhanced concrete, which can increase a building’s comfort and functionality (e.g., energy efficiency).
I am a construction company, why should I care about this?
The implementation of ecoLocked Materials has many advantages for construction companies and contractors:
1) As the industry shifts towards greener options, developers and the public sector are looking for players experienced in working with innovative sustainable materials.
2) Advance your ESG agenda by tackling scope 3 emissions* and presenting yourself as a frontrunner in addressing embodied carbon from materials used.
3) ecoLocked-enhanced concrete will comply with the conventional norms and standards, meaning no extra administrative effort in handling this material.
* Scope 3 emissions: Refers to indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur throughout a product's entire life cycle, including the production and transportation of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal.
I am a concrete product manufacturer, why should I care about this?
Concrete producers benefit from the using ecoLocked Materials in three ways:
1) ecoLocked provides a scalable and affordable solution to decarbonize concrete (thus avoiding costs related to carbon pricing and responding to the growing demand for green products).
2) The material can be easily integrated without having to disrupt or undergo expensive retrofitting of existing production processes.
3) The use of ecoLocked Materials allows to optimize other performance parameters of the concrete such as thermal insulation and durability.
What are the regulatory drivers behind concrete decarbonization?
It is expected that regulators will take stronger actions and introduce a global carbon tax. This tax will affect the profits of cement companies, which will need to buy emission allowances from third parties. As the number of available allowances decreases, like it is happening in the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), the cost of offsetting emissions will go up.
Why decarbonize concrete?
The concrete industry is responsible for about 8% of the world's emissions, releasing around 2.7 billion tons of CO2 each year. This pollution is expected to increase as the demand for concrete materials doubles by 2060. To reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, it is important to reduce emissions generated by the built environment, which is directly and indirectly responsible for almost ~40% ofglobal CO2 emissions.
Auswirkungen auf das Klima
What is insetting and when is it beneficial for the climate?
Insetting involves investing in carbon removal and storage activities within a company's own supply chain.
As long as we enable a carbon removal activity, such as BCR, offsetting and insetting are beneficial for the climate. A key advantage of insetting over offsetting is that you have higher transparency and control over the carbon removal and storage that you pay for. ecoLocked works with partners to ensure proper measurement, reporting, and verification of that carbon removal for you.
However, when you have the possibility to reduce emissions from your own (Scope 1 and 2) or your suppliers and customers (Scope 3) emissions, that should be a priority. This is why it is important that prices per ton of CO2 on the carbon market are not too low. Taking the concrete value chain as an example, the integration of captured biocarbon is possible (largely) independently of changes in production processes but should ideally be combined with the use of new cements, reduced-clinker cements and/or CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage).
How does the integration of biocarbon in concrete affect the concrete’s carbon footprint?
Storing biocarbon in concrete helps to reduce the carbon footprint of ecoLocked-enhanced concrete in three ways:
1. A CDR process is only complete with the secure and durable storage of the captured carbon in a so-called “sink”. ecoLocked’s process turns concrete into a biocarbon sink and enables concrete product manufacturers and construction project owners to fund the BCR process in the first place. Thereby, they can compensate for emissions generated by the production and processing of concrete. This process is called "insetting" as it removes and stores carbon directly in the concrete value chain, turning the building carbon-neutral or carbon-negative. In addition, the integration of biocarbon can enhance the building's own lifetime sequestration of CO2.
2. ecoLocked Materials partially replace conventional materials in the concrete mix, particularly cement clinker. By reducing the need for these emission-intensive materials, the overall CO2 footprint of the concrete is lowered.
3. The integration of ecoLocked Materials in concrete can improve functional properties, which can be leveraged to reduce operational emissions from buildings. For example, improving the thermal insulation properties of exterior walls reduces the need for heating and cooling, thus enhancing a building’s energy efficiency.
What is biocarbon and why does its production prevent CO2 emissions?
Biocarbon is a carbonaceous solid made from waste biomass (such as wood processing waste,agricultural residue, etc.), which generates CO2 emission in two ways:
- Via natural decay in forests, on farmlands, or landfills. Those emissions are largely unaccounted for, as they only partially represent anthropogenic emissions.
- Via combustion of the waste biomass by households, in biomass-fueled power stations, or on farmlands (e.g., crop residues such as corn stover and rice husks).
These emissions can be prevented by a process referred to as biochar carbon removal (BCR). The most common BCR technology is pyrolysis, whereby biomass is heated to more than 700°C without the presence of oxygen. This procedure prevents the above-mentioned emissions while keeping carbon in a stable structure for up to 1.000 years. Experts (IPCC, FAO, ICEF) estimate that “roughly 2.5 to 5.0 Gt CO2/y could be removed from the atmosphere” through biochar carbon removal.
What does Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technology mean?
CDR refers to technologies that instead of reducing anthropogenic emissions remove CO2 from the natural carbon cycle, either by enhancing natural CO2 sequestration from the atmosphere or by preventing the re-release into the atmosphere.
Carbon removal technologies are distinguished by their “permanence”, that is, by the amount of time the CO2 stays trapped. For example, afforestation is commonly considered a low-permanence technology due to the uncertainty associated with the lifetime of a tree owing to natural and human-induced risk factors. Direct Air Capture and Biocarbon Production are two examples of long-term carbon removal technologies.
Code of Conduct
Partner Policy
ecoLocked is committed to ethical and socially responsible business practices. We work with partners who share the same values and operate in accordance with ethical and environmental, social, and governance (ESG)standards. ecoLocked expects partners to minimize their environmental impact, treat employees and customers with respect, and conduct business with integrity. We believe working with ethical partners can help build a sustainable future.
How does ecoLocked ensure sustainable sourcing of waste biomass?
Sustainable sourcing of waste biomass is key to achieving positive environmental additionality with BCR. Therefore, we have developed two sourcing criteria:
1) ecoLocked uses residue (= true waste) biomass only and is committed to ensuring that biocarbon does not cannibalize other, potentially more value-adding uses of a biomass.
2) The use of waste biomass as a BCR feedstock must result in lower emissions vs. the alternative use within a relevant time frame for climate change.
Practically, this means, for example, that we shall not use biocarbon made from waste wood if that is either still usable for furniture production or could have remained in the forest ecosystem for many years without causing significant emissions.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)
ecoLocked is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We prioritize hiring and paying practices that promote equality and offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate the different needs of parents and part-time employees. Meetings are generally scheduled before 3 pm to ensure everyone can participate without compromising work-life balance. Furthermore, ecoLocked has established a process for team members to report incidents of discrimination and has selected two Ombudspersons with diverse backgrounds to provide additional support. We also ensure the accessibility of our website and social media content to people with disabilities. The effectiveness of our DE&I policy is continuously monitored through both quantitative and qualitative data.