Ulster University and Farrans Limited KTP 24_25 R2

Every year, the UK construction industry digs up millions of tonnes of soil that is too contaminated or mixed to reuse, and sends it to landfill. This project aims to turn that low-value, high-volume excavated waste into a key ingredient for manufacturing new, net-zero-carbon cementitious construction materials. The problem is straightforward: making traditional Portland cement for concrete generates roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Replacing it with a recycled soil-based alternative would slash that carbon footprint while simultaneously solving a massive waste disposal problem. If the research succeeds, construction companies could source a local, low-carbon binder for concrete directly from their own excavation sites. This would reduce landfill pressure, cut transport emissions from hauling waste, and lower the industry’s dependence on virgin raw materials. The impact is primarily industrial and environmental: it targets the hidden systems of supply chains, waste management, and building material manufacturing that underpin every road, bridge, and building. The project is applied and commercially focused—it aims to produce a market-ready material, not to answer a fundamental scientific question.