In Finland, Lipa-Betoni is set to make history by becoming the first precast concrete manufacturer in the world to implement compatriot Carbonaide Oy's technology at its plant. This innovation enables permanent storage of carbon dioxide in concrete elements, reduces cement use, and significantly lowers the carbon footprint.
The construction industry, especially in Europe, is set to transform toward low-carbon production and products driven primarily by carbon dioxide (CO2) taxation and market-based building regulations.
Overall, companies that quantify material emissions, integrate CO2 storage, and document recyclability will gain a competitive and regulatory advantage.
Construction in progress – implementation to begin in early 2026
Proprietary curing and storage process
Carbonaide has developed a proprietary CO2 curing solution that enables concrete manufacturers to utilise CO2 to improve their production and simultaneously permanently store carbon as carbonates in the products.
Pilot operations at Lipa-Betoni will begin in early 2026, with full-scale production to follow soon after
We are proud to be pioneers in this globally significant transition. This upgrade covers the entire capacity of our factory, allowing us to supply low-carbon concrete elements widely already during 2026, said Satu Lipsanen, CEO of Lipa-Betoni.
The investment project is currently underway at the precast plant, where Carbonaide’s systems are being integrated into Lipa-Betoni’s full-scale element production.
The work includes module manufacturing, tank installations, and system integration. After these phases, pilot operations will start at the beginning of 2026, followed by full production.
A retrofit technology
Carbonaide’s technology partner, Elematic Oy, a leading supplier of precast concrete technology, has developed a specialised patent-pending sealing solution for Lipa-Betoni’s curing chambers, enabling the safe use of carbon dioxide in the production process.
According to Tapio Vehmas, CEO of Carbonaide, the Lipa-Betoni project marks a crucial milestone in the company’s commercialization process.
We are now entering the precast concrete industry together with Lipa-Betoni. This first full factory integration also represents a major step in our collaboration with Elematic, started in 2025, which allows us to bring our solution rapidly to Europe’s construction markets, Tapio Vehmas said.
Cost savings and defossilisation
According to Carbonaide, its technology allows for a reduction of up to 20 percent in cement usage in concrete manufacturing.
In addition to being cost-effective, the technology accelerates the manufacturing process, minimizes climate impact, and addresses the increasing industrial demand for low-carbon construction solutions.
Europe faces a significant step change towards decarbonization in construction. Carbonaide’s technology provides our customers with a more efficient, lower-emission way to manufacture precast concrete while reducing costs. Elematic can fully support the implementation of this technology into existing precast factories, said Teppo Voutilainen, CEO of Elematic.
By combining Elematic’s expertise in equipment and automation with Carbonaide’s carbon dioxide treatment process, the collaboration enables the production of more sustainable concrete elements that permanently store CO2.
Lipa-Betoni aims to achieve over 60 percent emissions reduction in its element production in the first phase of adopting Carbonaide technology, surpassing Finland’s current low-carbon classification standards for concrete.
