Sustainability Series: The evolution of circular cements

Buried treasure: Why the UK's fly ash supply is about to come back from the ground up - Rob Nicholson, Commercial Director, EP Power Minerals  

The UK's coal-fired power stations have closed, ending the production of fresh fly ash. However, millions of tonnes remain in legacy stockpiles across the country and recovery and beneficiation projects are transforming this material into a certified, standard compliant supplementary cementitious material. This presentation explores why fly ash remains a proven choice for durable, lower carbon concrete. It also explains how recovered material fits within current standards, and what specifiers, architects, and designers can expect from the UK market in the years ahead.    

From waste to circular cements: standardising Recycled Concrete Fines in the UK - Danielle Dawson, Technical Innovation Manager (Cement), Holcim UK  

With rising decarbonisation and sustainability targets, the UK cement and concrete industry must find new ways to reduce embodied carbon while making use of materials already within the built environment. More 'circular' cement systems have already been deployed globally, and in the UK the use of recycled concrete fines (RCF) is a new opportunity to support the transition to an increasingly circular economy.

This presentation will introduce construction demolition materials, specifically RCF, and explain why its use is becoming increasingly important in relation to resource availability. It will also explore how the evolving European and British standards are helping its future use in cement and building applications.  

The use of calcined clay derived from recycled brick dust in permanent works concrete - Jack Sindhu, Technical Director, Capital Concrete Ltd  

Recycled brick dust is emerging as a supplementary cementitious material for concrete, with a growing number of UK projects demonstrating its potential. This session will explore how recycled brick dust can be used in line with the current standards, including BS 8615 and BS 8500, and showcase practical case studies highlighting its use in permanent works.  

Rob Nicholson - Commercial Director, EP Power Minerals  

Rob is an Associate Member of the Institute of Concrete Technology (AMICT) with more than 30 years of experience in construction materials. He has worked across aggregates, cementitious products, and lower-carbon solutions in the UK, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. His expertise includes supplementary cementitious materials, lightweight aggregates, and the commercialisation of clean technologies and carbon capture solutions.  

Danielle Dawson - Technical Innovation Manager (Cement), Holcim UK  

At Holcim UK, Danielle focuses on the development and scale-up of lower-carbon cement and concrete products. She leads initiatives on supplementary cementitious materials. She plays a key role in linking industry partners, universities, start-ups, and standard bodies together to make emerging technologies accessible to the construction industry.  

Jack Sindhu - Technical Director, Capital Concrete Ltd  

Jack is a Fellow of the Institute of Concrete Technology (FICT) with over 35 years of experience in the concrete and cement industries. He has extensive expertise in high-performance and lower-carbon concrete solutions, including calcined clay and alternative binders. Jack has contributed to major projects such as The Shard, the London 2012 Olympic Games, Crossrail, and the Northern Line Extension.