Betolar launches low-carbon concrete products

Betolar and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Fujairah Concrete Products (FCP) have launched a new range of paving products made of low-carbon concrete based on the cement-free Geoprime solution previously developed by Betolar.

Designed to meet Abu Dhabi Council for Quality and Conformity (ADQCC) building standards, as well as local standards for compressive strength and water absorption parameters, Geoprime also meets wear resistance standards EN 1338, EN 1339 and EN 1340.

Betolar and FCP have been developing the new paving products since the beginning of 2023, designing and testing a geopolymer-based concrete paving product manufactured with the Geoprime solution, which is suitable for the Middle East market. Since the production does not use cement but industrial side streams, the use of new products significantly reduces the CO2 footprint compared to ordinary cement-based paving stones.

Commenting on the launch, which was made during the Big 5 Global construction show (Dubai, 4-7 December 2023), Betolar's chief commercial officer, Ville Voipio said: "The UAE has been working for a long time to bring new sustainable products to market to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Cement reduction plays a crucial role in drastically cutting CO2 emissions from building materials. Our solution helps the industry reach its sustainability goals. In turn, we have the opportunity to offer our solution for the high-volume market together with a large player."

FCP, part of Fujairah Building Industries, is a public shareholding company where the major shareholder is the government of Fujairah, and produces more than 25 million blocks and more than 800,000 square meters of paving annually.