alterBiota, a Canadian cleantech company focused on decarbonizing construction materials, has officially entered the commercialization phase for its flagship product, deltaC (∆C™)—a biochar-based liquid admixture that reduces the carbon footprint of concrete by up to 30% while improving its strength and workability.

This milestone marks alterBiota’s transition from research and development to revenue generation, aligning with a growing demand for low-carbon construction solutions. Unlike traditional admixtures, ∆C not only enhances concrete performance but also contributes to carbon removal and long-term storage, helping reduce embodied carbon without requiring full cement replacement.

During its summer 2025 commercialization campaign, alterBiota deployed ∆C in over 100 cubic meters of concrete across multiple commercial applications—including extruded curbs, sidewalks, and structural pads. Projects saw carbon footprint reductions ranging from 10% to 22%, even in cases where cement content remained unchanged—highlighting ∆C’s flexibility and broad application potential.

A highlight of the campaign was a project for CarbonRun, a Nova Scotia-based environmental company. Delivered by Casey Concrete, the concrete was used to build a foundation for a limestone storage silo supporting river alkalinity enhancement and carbon sequestration. The concrete exceeded performance targets—achieving 35 MPa compressive strength within 3 days, far ahead of the 28-day requirement. The project achieved a 22% reduction in embodied carbon, showcasing how ∆C enables both performance and sustainability.

Beyond carbon savings, ∆C offers cost advantages over traditional high-performance additives like silica fume and provides simplified logistics for concrete producers due to its liquid form. The product is also a circular economy innovation, using forestry byproducts once consumed by pulp mills, offering a sustainable and scalable alternative to now-limited materials like fly ash and steel slag, which are becoming scarce due to reduced coal and steel production.

With industries under mounting pressure to decarbonize infrastructure, alterBiota’s ∆C is positioned to become a scalable, high-performance, low-carbon concrete solution. It blends climate impact reduction, economic practicality, and engineering performance, signaling a new era for sustainable construction.

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