Lafarge Africa Plc has entered into a strategic collaboration with Innovate UK through the Global Alliance Africa project to spearhead an open innovation challenge focused on the circular economy.
This partnership is aimed at uncovering innovative solutions for utilizing Construction Demolition Materials (CDM) to tackle material waste and combat climate change, reinforcing Lafarge Africa’s commitment to decarbonizing the construction industry.
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The initiative sets out three primary goals: the development of digital tools to identify sources of cementitious CDM, securing these materials in urban areas, and advancing local technologies for processing and recycling CDM.
Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, the Group Managing Director of Lafarge Africa, highlighted the company’s dedication to sustainability and innovation. “We are a building solutions company committed to sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence. By fostering innovative ideas and technologies, we aim to reduce carbon emissions and drive sustainable transformation within the construction industry,” he stated.
Alade-Akinyemi emphasized that Lafarge Africa and Global Alliance Africa are focused on developing sustainable, local solutions rather than relying on imported raw materials. The collaboration involves active research and development efforts to enhance the reactivity and value of recycled materials.
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Babar Javed, Open Innovation Lead at Global Alliance Africa, explained that the goal of their Open Innovation intervention is to assist large companies in finding innovative solutions to technical challenges that their traditional supply chains may struggle to address. “Using our bespoke platform, we match real industry problems with innovative companies or academic institutions capable of providing novel, market-ready solutions. We are excited to collaborate with Lafarge Africa to explore innovative approaches for the recycling of CDM,” Javed said.
The pilot project will commence in Lagos, with plans to expand to other states over time. The winner of the innovation challenge will have the opportunity to pitch their solution to Lafarge Africa and potentially collaborate on a trial project.
