Oxara – construction debris used for a future-minded solution

Concrete is used to build the foundations of our houses but is extremely harmful to the climate. This is because the main component used to make concrete is cement, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide during production and accounts for 5% of Switzerland's total CO₂ emissions alone. In addition, the recycling potential of cement is still far from being fully utilised, which is why tonnes of demolition and excavation material are buried in our landfills – providing no benefits at all. Well that is, up until now.

Cement belongs to the past

The start-up Oxara uses construction debris to produce a sustainable alternative to cement. It produces a low-carbon, recyclable binder that emits 50% less CO2 than conventional cement. This product is mainly made up of milled demolition materials and can be used in a variety of ways, such as for interior load-bearing walls and slabs. With support from the Migros Pioneer Fund, Oxara aims to launch the cement-free binder on the market and lay the foundations to scale up operations.

Solutions for a circular construction industry

Oxara’s binder provides a decarbonised, resource-saving alternative to cement, thereby supporting the transformation of the construction industry – and the achievement of the net zero target by 2050.