Becoming more sustainable without losing momentum 

Scaling up the use of geopolymer concrete

The construction industry is at a turning point. Pressure to build faster, more efficiently, and more affordably is mounting, while at the same time, requirements regarding sustainability and CO2 reduction are becoming increasingly stringent. Traditional concrete plays a dual role in this context: it is indispensable for construction, but contributes significantly to global emissions. Against this backdrop, geopolymer concrete is rapidly gaining ground. This material makes it possible to construct concrete structures without using cement, thereby drastically reducing the environmental impact. MBS Group is already working to scale up its application.

In the world of concrete and steel construction, innovations are often evaluated based on their impact on the process. New materials usually mean new standards, different detailing, modified production lines, or additional risks. Geopolymer concrete breaks that pattern. It is technically familiar in application, but fundamentally different in composition. It is precisely that combination that makes it relevant to the sector. Geopolymer concrete is concrete without cement: this traditional component is replaced by a binder made from mineral raw materials and industrial waste streams, including high-quality steel slag. The result is a stone-like material with comparable strength, durability, and workability to conventional concrete.

Continuity

“In practice, this transition does not require any changes to the construction system,” says Victor Woesthuis, marketing manager at MBS Group. “In prefabricated applications, the process remains virtually identical. Engineering, reinforcement, formwork, production, transport, and assembly proceed as usual. It is precisely this system continuity that is essential for achieving sustainability gains without slowing down the construction process. An important prerequisite for scaling up. The construction sector is under pressure to deliver faster and more cost-effectively, while sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor in tenders. A material that may score better on environmental performance but complicates the process has little chance of success. Geopolymer concrete demonstrates that there is another way.”

Review

From a technical standpoint, geopolymer concrete requires a different design approach. After all, existing standards and design rules were developed for cement-based systems. Woesthuis: “In practice, an alternative assessment method has been developed for this purpose, which allows structural performance to be documented in a verifiable and reproducible manner. This approach has since been successfully applied and accepted in completed projects. With the recent acquisition of Heembeton by MBS Group, we can scale up further. Heembeton produces geopolymer concrete itself and had already built homes using it. The acquisition therefore brings immediately applicable practical experience. This will not be limited to pilot projects. MBS Group aims to quickly integrate geopolymer concrete into regular project execution.”

CO2 reduction

The biggest benefit so far lies in the environmental impact. “By completely eliminating cement, we achieve a CO2 reduction of up to seventy percent per cubic meter of concrete,” Woesthuis continues. At the same time, the MKI value decreases by approximately fifty percent, which yields direct benefits in environmental calculations and permitting processes. “Of course, the quality of the raw materials used is always important. By working with controlled, high-quality waste streams, consistent material quality is ensured—a prerequisite for structural concrete. This shifts circularity from a side issue to an integral part of the material concept.”

Geopolymer concrete marks a turning point: no longer a niche innovation, but a serious contender for a new standard. Technically equivalent, process-reliable, demonstrably more sustainable, and now proven in concrete projects. According to Woesthuis, that is exactly the combination needed: “Becoming more sustainable without losing momentum. For a sector that needs to build faster and cleaner, that may well be the most realistic breakthrough.”