Lafarge Africa, Innovate UK Collaborate to Advance Sustainable Construction Innovations

Samuel Mobolaji

Lafarge Africa Plc has partnered with Innovate UK to launch an Open Innovation challenge through the Global Alliance Africa project, aiming to advance sustainable construction practices.

This initiative seeks to discover innovative circular economy solutions that utilize Construction Demolition Materials (CDM) to reduce material waste and combat climate change, marking a significant step toward decarbonizing the construction industry.

The challenge is designed with three primary objectives: the development of digital platforms to identify sources of CDM, securing these sources within urban environments, and enhancing local technologies for processing and recycling these materials. By focusing on these areas, Lafarge Africa emphasizes its commitment to sustainability and innovation, reflecting its broader goal of fostering a more environmentally conscious construction sector.

Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, highlighted the company’s dedication to operational excellence and sustainable transformation.

“As a member of the Holcim Group, we are reducing carbon emissions by fostering innovative ideas and technologies to facilitate sustainable transformation within the construction industry. To make a positive impact on the construction sector, we are seeking creative circular ideas for utilizing Construction Demolition Materials (CDM) to address material waste and climate change challenges to contribute to decarbonization,” said Alade-Akinyemi.

The collaboration between Lafarge Africa and Global Alliance Africa is focused on identifying sustainable, locally sourced solutions instead of relying on imported raw materials. Both entities are actively involved in research and development (R&D) to enhance the reactivity and value of recycled materials.

Open Innovation Lead at Innovate UK, Babar Javed, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the importance of finding innovative solutions to technical challenges that traditional supply chains cannot solve.

“Using our bespoke platform, we match real industry problems with innovative companies or academic institutions who can provide novel, market-ready solutions. We are delighted to be working with Lafarge Africa to find innovative solutions for the recycling of Construction Demolition Materials,” Javed stated.

The pilot project will commence in Lagos, with plans to expand to other states in the future. Up to £25,000 in seed funding is available for participants in this challenge, and the winning innovator will have the opportunity to pitch their solution to Lafarge Africa and collaborate on a trial project.

The application deadline for the challenge is August 27, 2024, with innovative companies from various sectors, including construction, recycling, manufacturing, materials, chemistry, energy, data, design, and AI, encouraged to apply.