Graphene Green Concrete (GGC)

Graphene Green Concrete (GGC) is a UK-based company with links to the University of Manchester. Its goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of infrastructures by producing concrete using 100% recycled aggregates instead of natural aggregates, without compromising strength & durability.

It has developed a low carbon concrete using recycled aggregates to 100% replace natural aggregates and a tiny amount of graphene to achieve comparable strengths to commercially available C40 concrete. It was developed by Prof. Yong Wang, Dr. Robert Ataria, PhD and Meini Su at The University of Manchester. Graphene Green Concrete can produce concrete using 100% recycled aggregates (materials such as sand and gravel) to achieve comparable performance as high value loadbearing concrete using natural aggregates.

GGC is being backed since the very beginning by Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre through Bridging the Gap Fund, Innovate UK via ICURe programme, Versarien (for materials) and the Eli and Britt Harari Graphene Enterprise Award.

In March 2024, an ambitious project between the UK's United Utilities and the University of Manchester that aims to put green concrete to the test in the water sector has taken an important step forward. The University of Manchester’s Graphene Green Concrete is one of the partners taking part in the water company’s latest Innovation Lab – and the first test pour of the material has taken place. With United Utilities set to invest a record £13.7 billion in the biggest ever water infrastructure improvement program for more than 100 years, Graphene Green Concrete has potential to reduce the environmental impact of construction projects and contribute towards the company’s net zero targets. Graphene for the testing was provided by two independent producers Levidian and Versarien, and United Utilities’ delivery partner Sapphire Utility Solutions provided other materials and managed the concrete pour. A range of concrete slabs featuring varying concentrations of graphene is now undergoing testing at the University of Manchester to monitor and analyze if they meet the necessary performance requirements.