Construction

Young entrepreneurs in Ecuador, Senegal, Nigeria, and Bangladesh are transforming land restoration into economic opportunities, supported by the Youth Ecopreneur Programme. Their projects integrate technology and sustainable practices to boost productivity and market viability.

Recycled supercapacitors with carbon-fiber cathodes maintained performance comparable to original devices through initial fabrication and two recycling cycles.

Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. has launched G FLUID, a graphene-based water coolant additive for data centres. Preliminary tests show a 20% increase in heat transfer when used at 1% concentration.

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. opened its Texas headquarters in Austin, featuring a facility capable of producing 30 tons of pristine graphene annually. Congressman John Carter attended the event.

PV PAINT plans to launch nanotube-enhanced zinc-rich coatings in Q3 2026, expanding its PERAPHENE™ line. These coatings offer long-term corrosion protection for harsh industrial environments.

A new technical guide details the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) for structural rehabilitation in pipeline repair, offering empirical data for design improvements.

First Graphene agreed with Sixth Element Material Technology to supply PureGRAPH4 CEM in China.

The Ellington anaerobic digestion facility will use 115 tons of Arigna biochar for ground stabilization, aiding carbon offset in construction. Completion is expected in approximately 18 months.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality awarded $1 million for mobile biochar equipment to convert Hurricane Helene debris into a soil amendment for flood-damaged farmland in Haywood County.

The federal government is providing $7 million to the Capital Regional District for a biosolids project on Vancouver Island, transforming wastewater treatment leftovers into biochar.

Arigna will supply 115 tonnes of biochar for ground stabilisation at the £35m anaerobic digestion plant in Northumberland, reducing the project's embodied carbon.

A new walkway in Nairobi's Upper Hill uses carbon-capturing concrete with biochar to test carbon-negative construction methods.

A new Biochar Research and Training Facility with a 1.5-ton daily processing capacity opened at Y.S. Parmar University in Himachal Pradesh to address forest fire hazards.

Miguel Angel Gomez Aristizabal at the National University of Colombia developed carbon nanotubes from coconut shells to reduce steel corrosion in cement by up to 70%.

Argo Graphene Solutions Corp. secured a 10-year exclusive license from Grapherry, Inc. for its STREAM graphene production technology, issuing 2.5 million shares and 5.5 million warrants.

Vink Chemicals and pyropower GmbH celebrated the topping-out of a new biochar power plant in Schwerin, Germany, designed to supply energy to Vink's production site.

Researchers found that adding biochar to green roof substrates significantly enhances their capacity to absorb methane.

The EU's proposed carbon market update could allow hemp-based carbon storage technologies to qualify for trading in the Emissions Trading System starting in 2030.

Researchers at the World Resources Institute report that current global CO₂ removal capacity is insufficient to meet the 2030 target of one billion tonnes, with technologies like Direct Air Capture and biochar facing high costs and scalability challenges. This shortfall impacts the advanced carbon materials sector, as these technologies are crucial for achieving net-negative emissions and supporting the sustainable use of biochar and other carbon-based solutions.

HydroGraph Clean Power has launched Fractal Graphene Paste, a pre-dispersed aqueous concentrate containing 20% graphene by weight, designed to simplify the incorporation of graphene into water-based industrial formulations. This development is significant for the advanced carbon materials sector as it addresses the dispersion challenges associated with graphene, potentially accelerating its adoption in applications such as construction materials, coatings, and thermal management systems.

Holcim introduced its biochar concrete at the Venice Biennale in 2025, collaborating with architect Alejandro Aravena. This development is significant for advanced carbon materials as biochar can enhance the sustainability of concrete by reducing its carbon footprint.

Verde Resources, through its subsidiary Verde Renewables, has signed a 10-year Master Commercialization and Collaboration Agreement with Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions to supply engineered biochar for road paving and manage associated carbon removal credits. This partnership positions Verde as a key supplier in the asphalt industry, leveraging biochar to create sustainable infrastructure solutions and potentially generating additional revenue through carbon credits.

Verde Resources and Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions have signed a 10-year agreement to advance the use of engineered biochar in cold paving applications, moving their collaboration into a commercial phase. This development is significant for the advanced carbon materials sector as it tests biochar's practical performance in real-world infrastructure projects, potentially paving the way for wider adoption of carbon-storing materials in road maintenance and construction.

Researchers at Chulalongkorn University used graphene quantum dots as nanoadditives in cement, tailoring interfacial processes during hydration to improve the mechanical performance of the set material.

The Government of Himachal Pradesh, in collaboration with Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry and ProClime Services Private Limited, has launched India's first indigenous biochar project in Hamirpur district, aiming to convert forest biomass into biochar to reduce fire risks and generate carbon credits. This initiative is significant for the advanced carbon materials sector as it transforms waste biomass into biochar, a stable carbon-rich material, thereby contributing to carbon sequestration and offering a sustainable model for forest management and rural livelihoods.

Eden Innovations Ltd showcased its carbon nanotube technology and EdenCrete® product at the Aarhus Power-to-X Symposium 2026 in Denmark. This participation highlights the potential of carbon nanotubes in reducing the CO2 footprint of construction materials, aligning with global trends towards sustainable construction solutions.

The International Virtual Institute of Global Changes and COMLURB have converted approximately one ton of urban tree trimmings in Rio de Janeiro into 300 kilograms of biochar and pyrolytic oil using pyrolysis. This initiative transforms municipal green waste into valuable resources for soil improvement and energy research, highlighting a sustainable approach to waste management in the carbon materials sector.

INNANO Ltd has established its operations at Exeter Science Park to further develop its graphene-enabled technologies for next-generation protective coatings. This move supports the advancement of graphene as a smart material, enhancing the protection, durability, and performance of materials in sectors like construction and energy.

Coffee!Up in the Czech Republic is transforming used coffee grounds into products like natural soap, coffee oil, biomass, and biochar, as highlighted by the European Commission. This initiative is significant for the advanced carbon materials sector because it demonstrates the potential for waste coffee grounds to be converted into valuable materials such as biochar, which can improve soil health and contribute to carbon sequestration efforts.

CCIC and UNNC have introduced a recycled carbon fiber manufacturing platform at the SAMPE China 2026 Conference, addressing four major industry challenges including extreme energy use. This innovation is significant for the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sector as it promises to reduce costs and carbon emissions associated with production.

Researchers at the International Virtual Institute of Global Changes, COPPE/UFRJ, in partnership with COMLURB, have converted one ton of urban pruning waste in Rio de Janeiro into approximately 300 kilos of biochar and pyrolytic oil. This initiative demonstrates the potential of using urban plant waste as a raw material for producing carbon-rich biochar, which can be used as a soil conditioner and for carbon storage, contributing to sustainable waste management and decarbonization efforts.

Ant Studio in Noida has designed a sustainable home for Kamran Haider using green cement and biochar to offset carbon emissions. This approach highlights the potential for advanced carbon materials like biochar to enhance sustainability in building design by reducing embodied carbon and improving energy efficiency.

A study of 38 steel I-beam models assesses how unbonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer strengthening affects bending performance, varying CFRP thickness, elastic modulus and type.

Researchers at UCLA have demonstrated that adding 0.05 percent graphene oxide by weight to concrete can increase its 28-day compressive strength by over 20 percent. This finding clarifies graphene oxide's role in enhancing concrete strength, potentially paving the way for its effective commercial application in construction.

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. commercially launched Fractal Graphene Paste, a 20% graphene-by-weight aqueous dispersion with a 99.8% carbon purity and over two-year shelf life, and has supplied samples to more than 30 customers. The product targets the graphene sector's core adoption barrier—dispersion difficulty—by delivering a stable, ready-to-use concentrate compatible with standard mixing equipment, which could accelerate graphene uptake in composites, coatings, and construction materials.

Argo Graphene Solutions Corp. (CSE: ARGO) closed a license agreement with Grapherry, Inc. on June 25, 2026, acquiring an exclusive worldwide license to Grapherry's STREAM graphene production platform in exchange for up to 11,000,000 common shares and 5,500,000 warrants, with full technology ownership transferring to Argo upon full share issuance. The deal gives Argo control over a scalable graphene production technology targeting construction, agriculture, and energy storage applications, while Grapherry's CEO Vikas Berry joined Argo's board and the company's existing CEO Scott Smale resigned.

Canada's graphene sector has developed across production, construction, filtration, printed electronics, and energy storage, with companies such as NanoXplore operating a 4,000-metric-ton-per-year facility in Montréal and firms like Zentek and Graphene Leaders Canada advancing application-specific products toward commercial deployment. The ecosystem signals a shift from materials science demonstration toward repeatable industrial use cases in carbon-based composites, conductive additives, and separation technologies, though commercial viability still depends on product qualification, standardization, and cost competitiveness against incumbent materials.

Researchers at RMIT University published a study in the Journal of Cleaner Production showing that spent coffee grounds processed via pyrolysis into biochar can increase concrete strength by up to 30%. The finding is relevant to the biochar sector as it demonstrates a scalable pathway for converting organic waste into a functional carbon-based construction material, potentially reducing landfill volumes and demand for natural sand.

Holcim conducted biochar concrete pilot projects across Europe in 2025, including test pours with Canary Wharf Group using biochar from forestry residues and coffee grounds, producing their first net-zero concrete mix. The trials signal a shift for the biochar sector from experimental additive to commercial-scale construction material, with Holcim describing it as a high-performance emissions-reduction input rather than a niche product.

Ohio State Waterproofing published a guide on June 22, 2026, comparing carbon fiber straps and steel beams for stabilizing bowed basement walls in Ohio homes, noting carbon fiber suits moderate bowing with a 30-year lifespan while steel beams handle severe deformation and can last over 50 years. The article reflects continued demand for carbon fiber reinforcement in residential construction, where its corrosion resistance and low-invasiveness position it as a practical alternative to steel in moisture-prone foundation repair.

The Advanced Carbons Council published an overview of graphene and other advanced carbon materials being adopted in construction, citing applications in concrete (Concretene, First Graphene, Versarien), asphalt, and corrosion-resistant coatings (Petronas). These developments indicate growing commercial deployment of graphene additives in construction materials, with documented performance gains in compressive strength, road durability, and steel protection at low material loadings.

The Advanced Carbons Council highlights graphene and related carbon materials being adopted in construction applications including concrete additives (Concretene, First Graphene), graphene-reinforced 3D-printed components (Versarien), asphalt modification, and corrosion-resistant coatings (Petronas). For the advanced carbon materials sector, construction has emerged as a leading commercial deployment area, with multiple suppliers demonstrating validated, scalable products that improve strength, durability, and emissions performance without requiring major process changes.

Argo Graphene Solutions Corp. completed its first graphene-infused concrete test pour of 12.5 cubic meters in Bristol, Tennessee, and launched a second pour of 15 cubic meters at the same site, with compressive strength testing scheduled at intervals through Day 56 per ASTM C39 standards. The project provides field-scale data on graphene's performance in cement matrices, targeting up to 30% gains in compressive and tensile strength, which could support broader commercial adoption of graphene in construction materials.

HydroGraph added Hubron International, a Manchester-based masterbatch and conductive polymer compounder with over 90 years of experience, to its Fractal Graphene Compounding Partner Program on February 10, 2026. The partnership gives HydroGraph access to Hubron's global distributor network and established carbon nanomaterial processing capabilities, supporting broader commercial adoption of graphene in thermoplastic applications across automotive, electronics, and other sectors.

Lancaster University has filed patents on a graphene oxide-enhanced concrete mix using 0.025 wt% graphene oxide that reaches 52 MPa compressive strength with 30% less Portland cement. The development indicates a scalable construction application for graphene oxide that could expand commercial demand for the material while reducing concrete's carbon footprint by 23% per cubic metre.

First Graphene (ASX:FGR) reported 53% revenue growth in the half to December 2025, pinning its scale-up thesis on construction additives, protective coatings and energy-storage applications.