CFlo Collaborates with GCCA on Net Zero Value Chain
CFlo World Limited is a Net Zero Value Chain Partner (NZVCP) of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), working alongside leading cement and concrete producers to accelerate decarbonisation across the value chain. Its solutions support circular material use, reduce reliance on virgin resources, and enhance process efficiency.
GCCA’s 2050 Net Zero Roadmap
The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA)’s 2050 Net Zero Roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy to fully decarbonise the cement and concrete industry—one of the most carbon-intensive sectors globally. The roadmap brings together stakeholders across the value chain, including equipment manufacturers, process innovators, and solution providers, all working towards a net zero future.Representing the majority of global cement production outside China, along with participation from leading Chinese manufacturers, GCCA leads collective industry action towards a low-carbon future. Through its Net Zero Accelerator and partnership platforms, the Association collaborates with globally recognised organisations such as ABB, Schneider Electric, Saint-Gobain, and Sinoma International.
These partners engage in collaborative working groups, industry forums, and standard-setting initiatives that will shape the sector’s decarbonisation journey for decades to come.
CFlo is part of this global ecosystem, contributing to solutions aimed at addressing the cement industry’s most critical challenge—decarbonisation—and aligning with leading global players committed to advancing sustainable, low-carbon construction practices.
Said Manish Bhartia, Group Promoter & Managing Director, CFlo World Limited: “The circular economy is not a future ambition for CFlo—it is what we do every single day. From transforming construction and demolition waste into engineered sand to recovering critical minerals for EV batteries and solar panels, every machine we build conserves resources that would otherwise be lost. Enabling net zero in cement and construction is central to CFlo’s ethos. The cement and concrete industry is one of the largest consumers of sand and aggregates in the world, and our technologies are purpose-built to help this industry become more sustainable, efficient, and resilient. We are committed to contributing our technology, knowledge, and global experience alongside GCCA and its members to help the industry achieve its net zero goals.”
CFlo's Circular Economy Solutions
With nearly two decades of expertise and over 500 successful installations across 18 countries, CFlo World Limited is the leading innovator in modular wet processing technologies. Its patented, plug-and-play systems transform waste streams into engineered resources, closing the loop on materials that would otherwise be discarded. Its four core solution areas directly support the cement and concrete industry's transition to a circular economy:- Waste Recycling (Reurban): Transforms construction and demolition waste, tunnelling spoil, excavation waste, and contaminated soil into high-quality engineered sand and sustainable building materials for use back in construction.
- Upcycling Mining Waste (Combo): Produces premium manufactured sand from mining overburden, crushed rock fines, and other industrial waste streams, delivering a direct and sustainable alternative to river sand.
- Ore Beneficiation (Oremax): Improves the quality and economic value of mined ores, including limestone used in cement production, through efficient wet processing, separation, and refinement.
- Critical Mineral Recovery (Micrograder): Recovers essential minerals for high-tech industries including EV batteries, solar energy, and advanced manufacturing, ensuring that valuable resources are fully recovered.
Why This Matters
CFlo's global network spans 18 countries across 5 key regions
CFlo’s mission to sustainably replace natural sand in 100 countries is not just an environmental ambition; it is an economic and industrial imperative. Through the NZVCP programme, CFlo contributes technical insights and practical experience aligned with GCCA’s 2050 Net Zero Roadmap, particularly in areas related to circularity, resource efficiency, and innovation across the cement and concrete value chain.
CFlo Driving Sustainable Alternatives to Natural Sand
CFlo World Limited is the global leader in modular wet processing technology, operating across five regions - Asia, Middle East, UK, Europe, North America and Oceania. With nearly two decades of innovation, over 500 installations across 18 countries, and a growing portfolio of global patents, CFlo delivers equipment solutions for waste recycling, upcycling mining waste, ore beneficiation, and critical mineral recovery.Powered by a world-class manufacturing, R&D centre and regional sales and service hubs with dedicated local teams, CFlo drives sustainable alternatives to natural sand by transforming construction & demolition waste (C&D) and mining waste into engineered sand and other building materials, while enhancing the value of mined ores and critical minerals for high-tech industries such as EV batteries. Through its B2B platform Doctor Sand Limited, CFlo is organising the sand supply chain. The group mission is to help 100 countries replace natural sand with sustainable alternatives.
Visit: www.cfloworld.com
Follow: #conservingresources
From durability to design freedom: The rise of GRC
Profit margins in the construction industry are historically thin.Avoiding unnecessary risk is always key and construction businesses have historically been somewhat reluctant to explore new methods and materials.
However, a few years ago, we saw an event which forced many to change their outlook.
During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and 2021, a host of paused projects, along with social distancing, furloughs and redundancies, squeezed the industry and caused thousands of experienced construction workers to leave or retire.
In the wake of the pandemic, many businesses were forced to re-evaluate their traditional practices and the adoption of, for example, digital technology and offsite construction methods increased.
Construction may still be a somewhat conservative industry, but it is now more open than ever to new technologies, methods and materials.
Designed for the future
One material gaining traction in construction is GRC, or glass fiber reinforced concrete – an alternative to steel-reinforced concrete.This is by no means a new innovation, but it’s fair to say that it is far from a mainstream construction material.
This might seem strange, given that GRC is known to be significantly more durable than traditional concrete.
Its higher initial cost and the need for upfront planning for its use have been cited as drawbacks, but it is now playing an increasingly important role in the construction of some of the world’s most significant building projects.
And GRC’s many applications are now gaining attention from construction businesses that see long-term benefits such as extended lifespan, lower maintenance costs and a range of sustainability pluses.
Jun Yamashiro is the sales manager with the glass fiber division of NEG (Nippon Electric Glass), a company with over 70 years’ experience in producing specialist glass products.
He says GRC is particularly effective as an exterior material for buildings with high design requirements.
“Complex-shaped concrete structures tend to become significantly larger when constructed with steel-reinforced concrete,” he says, “making them difficult to realize.
“In contrast, GRC allows for a reduction in concrete thickness, making it an ideal solution for such projects.”
He adds, “GRC is significantly lighter than precast concrete, which can lead to lower transportation and installation costs.”
According to Jun, standard concrete is strong in compression, but weak in tension, which is why it can tend to break down.
As a composite material, made by embedding an alkali-resistant glass fiber network into cement, GRC offers the tensile strength that standard concrete lacks.
“The result is a material that is stronger, more durable and more flexible than traditional concrete,” says Jun. “GRC’s fibers prevent the formation of large cracks and hold the material together, making it suitable for thin-walled, complex architectural designs – especially facades, cladding and decorative elements.”
In the built environment, any reduction in maintenance means a reduction in costs, which can make all the difference to the success or failure of a project.
With standard reinforced concrete, one of the main causes of deterioration is the corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcement.
Jun says GRC offers an advantage, here “as its reinforcing material consists of alkali-resistant glass fibers, which are not susceptible to corrosion. This contributes to its long-term durability.”
Another benefit of GRC is in safety. “Since the glass fibers used as reinforcement are non-combustible, GRC also offers reliable fire resistance,” he says.
Reinforcing a return on investment
It’s fair to say that GRC is likely to have a higher initial cost than traditional steel-reinforced concrete, due to the higher cost of the glass fibers and necessary plasticizers, combined with a slightly more complex and energy-intensive manufacturing process.
Jun argues, however, that the overall cost may be comparable or even lower in the long run, due to reduced labor and handling costs (GRC is lighter than its steel-reinforced cousin), faster installation times and lower lifetime maintenance costs.
Jun’s division of NEG produces a specially formulated alkali-resistant glass fiber, WizARG™, which offers a broad line-up in terms of hardness, flexibility and thickness and is available in a number of sizing agents, filament diameters, and cut lengths.
“This,” he says, “allows us to propose the most suitable type of glass fiber based on the specific needs of each customer, which could be anything from GRC panels to crack control in concrete.”
He adds that, no matter the application, the thickness and weight of concrete structures can be reduced through the use of WizARG™, “allowing for wider spans in applications like large ceilings and reducing the amount of reinforcement needed.
“This enhances the design flexibility of structural engineering and contributes to the realization of more aesthetically pleasing designs.”
Added to this, WizARG™ requires significantly less cement than steel-reinforced concrete; just one of a number of potential environmental benefits, which could benefit developers looking to get major projects up and running.
A very hot topic
Experiments with GRC were taking place in the 1950s, but the material only became widely available in the 1970s, following the development of alkali-resistant glass fibers, which gave it superior corrosion resistance.
These glass fibers had a high zirconia content and this, according to Jun, is one of the crucial distinctions between GRC products.
“The ability of the glass fiber to resist corrosion from the alkaline nature of cement,” he says, “is determined mainly by the zirconia [ZrO₂] content in the glass. Basically, the higher the zirconia content, the greater the alkali resistance.”
NEG says WizARG™ contains a high ZrO₂ content among commercially available alkali-resistant glass fibers, giving it “outstanding alkali resistance”.
Another differentiator is the manufacturing process – which takes place under strict quality control standards in Japan.
The method of manufacturing the WizARG™ glass fiber includes processing in an all-electric direct melt furnace, which converts almost all its electrical energy into heat in an extremely uniform way, producing a more stable fiber.
The future of fiber
Up to this point, the benefits of GRC have been seen largely in building facades, cladding panels and other aesthetic architectural components, where its light weight and design versatility come to the fore.
But things are changing; more designers are seeing GRC’s benefits within roofing and walls. It is also being used as tunnel lining and formwork, and it is potentially a game changer within the world of modular construction.
Jun also says WizARG™ has “excellent potential within coastal and marine facilities, as concrete is prone to carbonation due to the influence of salt and humidity, which in turn accelerates the corrosion of rebar.
“WizARG™ remains unaffected in performance even if the concrete carbonates.”
Now, with smart technologies, such as 3D printing, driving more complex architectural designs, and a market focused on resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact, the future for high-quality GRC looks promising.
Want to connect with the manufacturer or get more details?
Get in Touch
Published on:
14 May 2026
Published in: NBM&CW MAY 2026
Share:
We Value Your Comment
