Total Aggregates launch ReCO2®

Total Aggregates are excited to announce the launch of their new reduced carbon aggregate, ReCO₂®. With over 20 years trading Total Aggregates has recently developed hybrid aggregates that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of any construction project and demonstrates their commitment to improving sustainability in the industry. ReCO₂® is an innovative product with both performance and environmental benefits.

According to the Mineral Products Association, 250 million tonnes of aggregates are used in Great Britain every year and only 30% of them are recycled or secondary aggregates, which still contribute to carbon emissions. To achieve Net Zero in construction the industry needs products that consume more CO₂ than they emit during production. ReCO₂® is a hybrid aggregate that uses O.C.O Technology’s Manufactured Limestone (M-LS) with high purity carboniferous limestone (C-LS) to create unbound aggregates that are truly reducing carbon in construction.

Total Aggregates have partnered with O.C.O Technology who are experts in the application of Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT) for carbon capture. ACT is a genuine Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) process. Carbon dioxide is permanently captured as stable carbonate minerals. Very little energy is required for the process, which relies upon the reactivity of the waste material. Many wastes are naturally reactive with carbon dioxide in the presence of water. If the conditions are carefully controlled, this natural reaction can be accelerated, taking place in minutes rather than years and resulting in the formation of calcium carbonate (manufactured limestone).

Total Aggregates Director, Richard Hextall, says, “ReCO₂® offers a genuinely sustainable aggregate without compromising on quality. We believe all environment claims should be verified which is why ReCO₂® comes with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).”

He explains, “Using uniform feedstocks and a digitally controlled blending system, ReCO₂® hybrid aggregate properties do not fluctuate like other recycled aggregate and IBAA. Our blending plant is the only one of its kind in the UK and the first to blend aggregates to Type 1 MOT specification in the world.”

To support the launch, Total Aggregates held an Open Day at their Boston Sidings site where visitors could find out more about ReCO₂® and see the production process in action. The site is equipped with a cutting-edge Terracon blending plant designed to revolutionise the efficient mixing of large volumes of materials. It is fully blended to ensure there are no pockets of M-LS or C-LS. The thoroughly blended material goes onto a conveyor and ReCO₂® Type 1 MOT Subbase is ready to go.

Richard says the Open Day was a huge success, “We welcomed over 70 people and conducted several tours of the site in groups of 10 people, enabling them to see the products and blending process close-up. Supported by O.C.O Technology, Terracon and our own Total Aggregates team, visitors had the opportunity to find out everything the wanted to know about ReCO₂®. Since the event we have received very positive feedback both about the product and the Open Day itself and hope to run similar events in the future.

Richard concludes, “The launch of ReCO₂® is an exciting development, not just for our business, but for the industry as a whole as we move towards a more sustainable future.”

For more information on ReCO₂® visit: www.totalaggregates.com/reco2/