R2Crete secures funding for cement-replacement pilot

University of Melbourne spinout R2Crete has secured AUD750,000 (US$523,000) in pre-seed funding from the university’s Genesis Pre-Seed Fund and Uniseed to develop a concrete-recycling pilot plant.

Its patented process recovers clean aggregates and a supplementary cementitious material from waste concrete, providing a potential alternative source of cement-replacement materials.

The funding will support construction of the pilot plant, targeted for completion in late 2026, and production of materials for industry trials beginning in early 2027.

R2Crete says the technology can recover up to 75 per cent of the cement in waste concrete. The pilot will assess its performance, production costs and suitability for commercial deployment.