Seashells turned to eco-friendly concrete

Using scallop shells could reduce carbon emissions by 36 per cent. Pic/iStock

Researchers at the University of East London (UEL) have found an extraordinary new purpose for discarded seashells. Once processed into a fine powder, shells can replace up to a third of the cement in concrete, offering a highly scalable method to reduce carbon output.

Cement, the binding agent in concrete, accounts for roughly 7 per cent of global carbon emissions. It is everywhere, its carbon footprint enormous. UEL's study found that ground scallop shells - which typically end up in landfills or waste streams - can be substituted for cement, delivering a 36 per cent reduction in carbon emissions for the material.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever