A new type of concrete, “Sugarcrete,” has been undergoing scientific testing. This follows an announcement last May by the group leading the development of Sugarcrete, a partnership between the University of East London and the British company Tate & Lyle Sugars. The process of harvesting sugarcane involves leaving behind fibrous stalk waste, which is the main ingredient of Sugarcrete. The waste combined with “proprietary mineral-based binders… is compressed and left to cure, resulting in high-strength blocks that can be used in place of traditional clay or concrete bricks” (NewAtlas). There are many benefits to choosing Sugarcrete over regular concrete, such as decreased costs, lower weight, and the ability to reuse left-over sugarcane waste. Sugarcrete also has a lower carbon footprint when compared to regular concrete, and this is a big positive because traditional cement is responsible for around 8% of total global CO₂ emissions. Currently, Sugarcrete is focusing on expanding their agricultural partners in order to commercialize the technology.
Clay Stauffer