11.29.07
Hycrete
I’m not sure I totally get this, but apparently Hycrete is a recyclable waterproof concrete—pretty nifty, given that the enormous amount of concrete we use now is not recyclable at all. Here was where I started:
Concrete is the most used substance on the planet. We talk about plastic bottles and disposable packaging. That crap PALES in comparison to the amount of concrete we use in the world. Eight percent of human produced carbon dioxide is a direct result of the mining, processing and transport of concrete!
And, in the end, it’s strong…but it could be stronger. And when it reaches the end of it’s useful life, there’s nothing to do with it but throw it away.
Enter HYCRETE! Hycrete is not only more durable than concrete (because water cannot penetrate it) it’s also extremely easy to recycle. Just grind it up and, voila, it is the same stuff it was before it was cast. Hycrete is cradle to cradle certified as well as LEED certified.
The World Economic Forum just named the company that produces Hycrete one of the few 2008 “Technology Pioneers.” And we just wanted to say, congratulations, you rock…thanks for saving the world in a seriously powerful (albeit unglamorous) way.
I naturally wanted to know more. But: no links in that post, notice? I did find this post, which provides more information and more links, but no explanation of the recyclability. Hycrete’s own site provided some more information, including (if you click around) how it helps the rebar maintain integrity through the waterproofing trick.
Here’s more info on the MDBC Cradle-to-Cradle certification, and here are the first six products to be certified. Finally, here’s the certification notice of Hycrete on the MDBC site. But nowhere could I find more information on how you can reuse concrete that has the Hycrete additive in it.
