Neocrete, a New Zealand-based deep-tech startup, has developed a revolutionary additive inspired by ancient Roman chemistry to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of concrete production, potentially lowering global cement-related emissions by up to 8 percent and transforming the industry’s sustainability.
Based in Auckland’s innovation hub at Outset Ventures, Neocrete is a pioneering deep-tech startup aiming to revolutionise one of the world’s largest sources of carbon emissions: concrete production. Founded in 2018 by Zarina Alexander and Matt Kennedy-Goode, the company has developed a breakthrough additive inspired by ancient Roman chemistry that could reduce up to eight percent of global carbon emissions linked to cement manufacture, the single largest industrial contributor to climate change.
Concrete’s ubiquitous presence in infrastructure masks its environmentally damaging production process. Traditional cement, the binder in concrete that imparts strength, is produced by heating limestone at extremely high temperatures, a process that releases vast volumes of CO₂. Concrete production accounts for about 7–8 percent of global carbon emissions, surpassing the footprint of entire nations such as India. For decades, the industry’s entrenched manufacturing methods have proven resistant to change, with policymakers and scientists calling for breakthroughs to decarbonise it.
Neocrete’s innovation lies not in inventing a radically new building material, but in re-engineering how cementitious bonds form by leveraging chemistry refined over two millennia ago. Ancient Romans used volcanic ash that chemically reacted at ambient temperatures to create durable concrete structures that survive today. Drawing from this principle, Neocrete’s proprietary additive activates abundant low-carbon materials like volcanic ash and industrial residual ash, converting them into a cement-like binder without the energy-intensive processing that traditional cement requires.
This approach produces a concrete that is not only significantly greener but also stronger, more durable, and economically competitive. By reducing reliance on clinker, the key carbon-intensive component of cement, Neocrete can diminish the cement content in concrete from typical levels as high as 95 percent to as low as 57 percent without compromising strength or performance, as demonstrated in trials with Southeast Asian customers. This translates into up to 40 percent emissions reduction and material cost savings of up to 30 percent in markets with elevated cement prices, such as Europe.
A critical facet of Neocrete’s strategy is its seamless integration into existing industrial and construction workflows. Recognising the construction industry’s risk aversion and deep entrenchment in cement-based materials, the company designed its technology to behave almost identically to conventional cement, avoiding the need for new equipment, retraining, or complex supply chain overhauls. This pragmatic innovation pathway facilitates quicker adoption while maintaining the comfort zone of producers and builders.
Since formation, Neocrete has invested heavily in research and intellectual property protection, conducting more than a thousand trials in the past year alone. Their R&D team has grown to include specialists in chemistry, engineering, and IP management, underscoring the technical depth behind the venture. The startup’s successes have attracted significant investment, including a US$4 million seed round led by Singapore’s Wavemaker Partners and ongoing oversubscribed funding rounds, signalling robust investor confidence.
Neocrete’s technology is gaining international traction through partnerships with major cement producers such as Cemex, Heidelberg Materials, CRH, Titan, Cementos Argos, and Ultratech Cement. These collaborations are aimed at scaling the use of Neocrete’s activator globally, with ambitions to eliminate cement use entirely by 2027 and produce fully carbon-free concrete. To support this scale-up, Neocrete has established a US$2 million pilot plant in Auckland capable of producing 0.12 million tonnes of cement annually, roughly equivalent to 10 percent of New Zealand’s current demand.
While New Zealand’s own market remains cautious and comparatively small, the company remains committed to local benefits, acknowledging the domestic support and intellectual genesis that helped bring the technology to life. Expansion plans include establishing manufacturing and commercial operations in critical international markets such as the UK and Europe, where demand for decarbonised building materials is intensifying due to regulatory pressure and high material costs.
Neocrete embodies a new wave of industrial decarbonisation innovation that respects existing infrastructure and supply chains while dramatically cutting emissions. By rethinking rather than reinventing concrete, the company offers a scalable, economically viable route to reducing a significant portion of global emissions. As the world grapples with the challenge of sustainable infrastructure development, Neocrete’s approach could prove to be a vital component in achieving net-zero ambitions for the construction sector.
Industry observers have noted parallels with other initiatives like Carbon Limit’s CaptureCrete®, which also aims to strengthen concrete and reduce clinker content while enabling carbon credit generation through atmospheric CO₂ mineralisation. However, Neocrete’s distinctive use of volcanic and industrial ash activated by its proprietary additive offers a unique combination of performance, cost saving, and near-term deployability.
As global cement manufacturers begin adopting Neocrete’s technology and governments tighten emissions standards for heavy industry, the company’s humble beginnings in a New Zealand concrete lab may soon translate into a foundation stone for climate-resilient construction worldwide.
- https://nzentrepreneur.co.nz/can-neocrete-solve-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-climate-problems/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-neocrete-solve-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-climate-problems – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.neocrete.com/ – Neocrete is a New Zealand-based deep-tech startup founded in 2018 by Zarina Alexander and Matt Kennedy-Good. The company has developed a concrete additive inspired by ancient Roman chemistry, aiming to reduce global carbon emissions by up to 8%. Their innovative solution activates low-carbon materials like volcanic ash, producing a cement-like binder without the carbon-intensive processing typical of the cement industry. This approach not only makes concrete greener but also enhances its strength, durability, and affordability.
- https://www.neocrete.com/technical – Neocrete’s Activator is a dry powder additive with high surface area and chemical reactivity. When added to a concrete mix, it activates bonding molecules, accelerates chemical reactions, and increases the density of molecular bonds. For their first major customer in Southeast Asia, Neocrete boosted the reactivity of local, low-quality fly ash, reducing cement content in concrete from 95% to 57%, while maintaining strength on day 28. This process saves both carbon and cost for the customer.
- https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/neocrete/financial_details – Neocrete, a New Zealand-based concrete manufacturing company, has raised a total of funding over eight rounds. Their latest funding was raised on July 4, 2024, from a grant round. The company is funded by six investors, with Callaghan Innovation and Icehouse Ventures being the most recent investors. Neocrete focuses on manufacturing resilient and carbon-neutral concrete, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of the concrete industry.
- https://www.globalcement.com/news/item/17779-neocrete-collaborates-with-global-cement-producers-to-reduce-concretes-carbon-footprint – Neocrete has partnered with major cement manufacturers, including Cemex, Heidelberg Materials, CRH, Titan, Cementos Argos, and Ultratech Cement, to promote its Activator product. This product uses volcanic ash or residual ash from industrial processes to reduce the amount of cement required in concrete by 40% to 50%. Neocrete aims to replace cement completely, resulting in carbon-free concrete by 2027. A new pilot plant in Mt Wellington, valued at US$2 million, will produce 0.12 million tonnes of cement annually, meeting 10% of New Zealand’s demand.
- https://www.neocrete.com/ourstory – Neocrete’s mission is to re-engineer concrete to make it regenerative, resilient, and carbon-neutral. Founded in New Zealand in 2018 by Zarina Bazoeva and Matt Kennedy-Good, the company focuses on making carbon-neutral, resilient concrete without cement. Neocrete’s R&D team has been working on re-thinking concrete, engineering for sustainability and efficiency, to enable higher-performing, low-carbon concrete at a lower cost than conventional concrete. The company now has laboratories and offices in Parnell, Auckland, and a manufacturing plant in South Auckland, with plans to expand to the UK and EU.
- https://www.carbonlimit.com/capturecrete – CaptureCrete® is an innovative solution that enhances the strength performance of cement and concrete products while reducing clinker or cement content, all without compromising plastic properties. Through CaptureCrete®’s atmospheric CO₂ mineralization mechanism, the reduction of cement content qualifies for Avoidance Credits generation, while the potential acceleration of atmospheric CO₂ sequestration presents the opportunity to generate Removal Credits. Carbon Limit manages the entire process—from verification and issuance to Voluntary Carbon Credit sales—sharing the net proceeds of their high-quality engineered credits with customers through flexible, project-tailored revenue-sharing models.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative was published on 27 November 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 22 August 2024, when Neocrete collaborated with global cement producers to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint. ([globalcement.com](https://www.globalcement.com/news/item/17779-neocrete-collaborates-with-global-cement-producers-to-reduce-concrete-s-carbon-footprint?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content appears original, with no evidence of being republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([globalcement.com](https://www.globalcement.com/news/item/17779-neocrete-collaborates-with-global-cement-producers-to-reduce-concrete-s-carbon-footprint?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Neocrete’s co-founder and CEO, Zarina Alexander, and co-founder and President, Matt Kennedy-Good. These quotes appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. No variations in quote wording were noted. The absence of online matches suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from NZ Entrepreneur Magazine, a publication focused on entrepreneurs, startups, and SME business builders in New Zealand. While it provides in-depth coverage of local business developments, its reputation and editorial standards are less established compared to major international outlets. This raises some uncertainty regarding the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Neocrete’s technology and partnerships align with previously reported information, such as the company’s collaboration with major cement manufacturers to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint. ([globalcement.com](https://www.globalcement.com/news/item/17779-neocrete-collaborates-with-global-cement-producers-to-reduce-concrete-s-carbon-footprint?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes specific details about Neocrete’s funding, technology, and market expansion plans, which are consistent with known developments. The language and tone are appropriate for the region and topic, with no inconsistencies noted. The structure is focused and relevant, without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is professional and resembles typical corporate communication.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents information about Neocrete’s recent developments, including funding and partnerships, which align with previously reported facts. However, the source’s reliability is uncertain due to the publication’s lesser-established reputation. While the content appears original and plausible, the medium confidence rating reflects the need for further verification from more established sources.
