Ontario Construction News staff writer
MISSISSAUGA — Carbon Upcycling Technologies and Ash Grove have broken ground on Carbon 1 Mississauga, Canada’s first commercial-scale carbon capture and utilization facility at a cement plant.
Located at Ash Grove’s Mississauga site, the project will use Carbon Upcycling’s patented technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions directly from the plant’s kiln and convert them into high-performance, low-carbon supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Once operational in 2026, the site is expected to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of SCMs annually.
The project marks a significant step toward decarbonizing one of the world’s most emissions-intensive industries. It also aligns with federal efforts to support clean manufacturing and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Canada’s climate goals.
Carbon 1 Mississauga has been awarded as much as $10 million in federal funding through three key programs: Next Generation Manufacturing Canada’s Sustainable Manufacturing Program, the federal Low-Carbon Economy Fund, and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
“Clean technology, including carbon capture, will play an integral role in our efforts to decarbonize,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin. “Projects such as this one present significant economic opportunity for Canadian industry in clean energy and decarbonization.”
The facility is being developed through a multi-stakeholder collaboration involving Carbon Upcycling, Ash Grove, and CRH Ventures—the venture capital arm of global building materials company CRH, which has invested in Carbon Upcycling to help scale the technology across North America.
“This is a milestone in our journey to build world-leading, domestic supply chains in North America,” Carbon Upcycling CEO Apoorv Sinha said in a statement. “It will stand as a testament to the shared commitment of our team, our partners at CRH and Ash Grove, and the local community who share our vision for a resilient, clean tomorrow.”
Ash Grove president Serge Schmidt described the project as a “breakthrough” in cement decarbonization. “We’re proud to build it in Canada, using homegrown talent, partnerships and purpose-driven innovation,” he said.
The facility is expected to create several permanent skilled jobs in Ontario and support additional employment during the construction phase.
Carbon Upcycling’s technology transforms captured CO₂ and industrial byproducts into high-performance cement additives, fostering circular, local supply chains. The company is supported by investors including Builders Vision, BDC, Climate Investment, and Clean Energy Ventures, as well as cement giants Cemex Ventures and TITAN Group.
More information is available at carbonupcycling.com.