Reclinker raises £10m to scale low-carbon cement from demolition waste

Reclinker, a UK startup turning demolition waste into low-carbon cement, has raised £10 million in a Series A funding round. The investment will fund commercial-scale production in Cardiff and expansion into Europe and the US, targeting a 50% reduction in emissions without increasing costs.

Funding and investors

Reclinker, a UK-based startup developing low-carbon cement from demolition waste, has raised £10 million in a Series A funding round. The round was co-led by Clean Growth Fund and AP Ventures, with participation from the Development Bank of Wales, Kibo Invest, Zero Carbon Capital, and Cambridge Enterprise. According to The Next Web, the round was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor interest in the startup’s technology.

Technology and impact

Reclinker’s process recovers old cement paste from demolished buildings and uses electric arc furnaces—commonly used for recycling steel—to produce clinker, the key ingredient in cement. This method eliminates the need for kilns, quarried limestone, or fossil-fuel heat, reducing emissions by 50% compared to conventional cement production. The startup claims its product matches the cost of traditional cement, addressing a major barrier to adoption in the construction industry.

Cement production is responsible for roughly 7% of global CO₂ emissions, three times the emissions of the aviation sector. Most of these emissions stem from the production of clinker, which typically requires high-temperature kilns powered by fossil fuels. Reclinker’s approach leverages existing steel recycling infrastructure, potentially accelerating its path to commercialisation.

Progress and expansion

Reclinker has already produced thousands of tonnes of its low-carbon cement at 7 Steel UK’s plant in Cardiff and secured its first commercial sales. The £10 million funding will enable the startup to transition from trials to full-scale production in Cardiff, with plans to expand to other electric arc furnace sites in Europe and the US.

The startup’s timing aligns with growing demand for sustainable construction materials. Through the Innovate UK Advance Market Commitment, major concrete users have committed to increasing their use of low-carbon materials over the next five years. Reclinker’s technology could fill a gap left by declining supplies of blast-furnace slag, a traditional low-carbon cement additive that is becoming scarce as steelmakers shift away from blast furnaces.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Reclinker’s funding round highlights a growing investor appetite for scalable solutions in heavy industries like construction, where emissions are stubbornly high. Cement alone accounts for 7% of global CO₂ emissions, and traditional methods rely on carbon-intensive processes like kilns and fossil fuels. If Reclinker’s technology delivers on its promise—50% lower emissions at the same cost—it could disrupt a market desperate for alternatives.

The oversubscribed round also signals confidence in their approach: repurposing existing electric arc furnaces (already used for steel recycling) to produce cement alongside recycled steel. This dual output could make adoption easier, especially as industries face pressure to decarbonise. However, scaling beyond Cardiff will test whether their model can replicate in regions with different waste streams, regulations, or energy costs. For founders in industrial tech, Reclinker’s story underscores the value of leveraging existing infrastructure—like steel plants—to accelerate commercialisation.

Key takeaways

• Reclinker has raised £10 million in Series A funding to commercialise its low-carbon cement technology.
• The startup’s process reduces emissions by 50% at the same cost as conventional cement, using demolition waste and electric arc furnaces.
• Investors include Clean Growth Fund, AP Ventures, the Development Bank of Wales, and existing backers like Zero Carbon Capital.
• Reclinker has already produced thousands of tonnes of its product and secured its first commercial sales.
• Funds will support scaling production in Cardiff and expanding to Europe and the US.

FAQ

What is Reclinker’s technology?

Reclinker recovers cement paste from demolished buildings and uses electric arc furnaces—typically used for steel recycling—to produce clinker, the key ingredient in cement. This process eliminates the need for kilns, limestone, and fossil fuels, cutting emissions by 50%.

Who are Reclinker’s investors?

The Series A round was co-led by Clean Growth Fund and AP Ventures, with participation from the Development Bank of Wales, Kibo Invest, Zero Carbon Capital, and Cambridge Enterprise.

How does Reclinker’s cement compare to conventional cement?

Reclinker claims its product matches the cost of conventional cement while reducing emissions by 50%. The startup has already produced thousands of tonnes of its product and secured its first commercial sales.

Why is cement production a major emissions source?

Cement production accounts for about 7% of global CO₂ emissions, primarily due to the energy-intensive process of producing clinker in fossil-fuel-powered kilns. Reclinker’s method avoids these emissions by using electric arc furnaces.

What are Reclinker’s expansion plans?

The £10 million funding will enable Reclinker to scale production in Cardiff and replicate its model at other electric arc furnace sites in Europe and the US.

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