There is no shortage of concrete rubble. There is a shortage of concrete that can be reused. We have reinvented the chain. Where the construction sector typically processes demolition rubble into mixed aggregate for road foundations or cheap fill, we recover the original raw materials from concrete: sand, gravel, and cement. That requires a different process — a chain of surveying, recovery, sorting, and liberating. Every step is designed to preserve quality.
The result: existing concrete becomes new concrete, with the same quality, the same strength, the same environmental class and workability — without new extraction.
Our process begins before demolition. Where most recyclers only step in once the rubble is piled up, we start at the source — with surveys, analyses, and targeted recovery. This is how we preserve quality throughout the entire chain.
Before harvesting, we assess the concrete quality using drill cores and our own technique that determines the DNA of the concrete. This data guarantees the best harvest.
Large chunks of concrete rubble of varying quality are removed directly from the harvest site and stored under cover.
The concrete rubble is broken down into bite-sized chunks per harvest stream.
Using a number of separation techniques, all non-concrete material is removed from the concrete rubble.
The technology inside the Smart Liberator liberates sand, gravel, and cement from one another. SL Materials makes use of the different properties of the materials in concrete. The gravel is separated directly using a sieve. The result is clean gravel: Freegravel.
The mix of sand and cement is refined further by the Smart Refiner. First we separate the sand fraction from the cement; we call this Freesand. We separate the mix of cement fines into two types of cement: the fine and the coarse fraction. Better known as Freement fine and Freement coarse.
We process the two Freement fractions (fine and coarse) into new cement in our own cement plant. This is how we guarantee the lowest possible environmental impact.
From the separate raw materials we make new concrete. This concrete has the same technical quality and the same certifications as traditional concrete. The price for this sustainable choice is in line with the market.
We are building the new standard in concrete together. Discover projects featuring circular concrete, sector updates, and knowledge from our lab.
Find the answers to frequently asked questions here.
The Smart Liberator is our own machine that breaks down concrete rubble through a process of crushing, sieving and refining into its original components: sand, gravel and cement. Where traditional crushers produce roughly graded aggregate, the Smart Liberator recovers the raw materials at the level of the original particle packing.
The concrete rubble is first analysed for composition. We then process it in the Smart Liberator, which liberates the concrete into sand, gravel and cement. These raw materials are refined and used in the production of Liberated Concrete. Nothing disappears from the concrete chain.
We start before the first demolition blow. Through surveys, XRF analyses and microscopic examination, we map the composition of the concrete to be demolished. This allows us to know exactly what we are taking in, harvest with precision and maintain quality throughout the entire chain.
These are our three circular raw materials, together known as Smart Liberated Materials. Freesand is circular sand recovered from demolition rubble, Freegravel is circular gravel liberated from existing concrete, and Freement is circular cement that replaces traditional Portland cement. All three are technically equivalent to primary raw materials.
We aim to return all delivered concrete to reusable raw materials as fully as possible. By conducting thorough research into the composition in advance, we maximise the yield of every delivery. Get in touch for a tailored estimate.
Talk to us about circular concrete, a tender, a collaboration, or simply ask our team a question. We are ready.
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