Re-using construction materials

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The UK’s Cemex Ventures is investing in a US business that seeks to facilitate the reuse of construction materials that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Soil Connect helps connect supply and demand based on the users’ proximity and needs. It is a digital marketplace for excavation materials, primarily soil and aggregates. The US-based business aims to provide a better, faster and cost-effective way for construction professionals to transport and acquire soil, aggregates, and other building materials.

The Soil Connect platform uses algorithms to help connect supply and demand based on the users’ proximity and needs. The marketplace digitises monitoring and billing tasks for the transactions to facilitate transparency and help users optimise time and costs.

Cemex Ventures said that, in addition, Soil Connect reduces the amount of soil currently disposed of in landfills, which results in significant cost savings for construction professionals. This also promotes circular economy within the sector by giving a new life to materials that otherwise, would have been discarded. Soil Connect also favours lowering carbon emissions by reducing the transportation distance, as the platform allows users to select the desired distance within their reach.