MevoCem Ultra-Low Carbon Cement and MevoXL

Material Evolution (Mevo) is a UK company launched in 2020 by Dr Liz Gilligan and Sam Clark to cut the emissions of cement, which accounts for about 8% of global emissions. After a pilot plant and R&D hub in Middlesbrough, it commissioned its first A1 production facility in Wrexham, Wales in October 2024 with 120,000 tonnes of annual capacity.

MevoCem is a zero-clinker engineered binder made from industrial byproducts, waste and low-value natural materials through a proprietary Alkali Fusion process at ambient temperature, without kilns. AI and machine learning are used to select feedstocks, optimise formulations and predict performance. Supplied as a one-part powder needing only water, it reaches the 52.5 strength class. MevoXL is an admixture that lets producers raise supplementary materials in existing mixes. Customers are ready-mix and precast producers and infrastructure owners.

• Alkali Fusion process: activates byproducts and natural materials at ambient temperature without kilns.
• Zero clinker: MevoCem contains no Portland clinker and reaches the 52.5 strength class.
• One-part powder: needs only water and supports slump classes S1 to S4 and self-compacting mixes.
• AI-driven formulation: machine learning selects feedstocks and predicts performance.
• MevoXL admixture: raises supplementary material content in existing precast and ready-mix designs.
• Broad uses: paving, blocks, kerbs, pipes, precast elements, foundations, slabs and piles.

Precast producers of pipes, kerbs and paving blocks in Vietnam can trial MevoXL to raise fly ash content and cut carbon at the same cost. Water and irrigation authorities can specify low-carbon precast blocks for spillways and canals. Cement groups could partner to build compact local plants near byproduct sources.

MevoCem emits 144 to 196 kg CO2e per tonne, up to 85% less than ordinary Portland cement. Products integrate without changing existing production operations and suit strength classes up to at least C60. In a precast trial, MevoXL cut embodied carbon by 20%, raised fly ash content from 14% to 30% and exceeded the strength specification by 56% at unchanged material cost.

Codes of practice such as BSI Flex 350 and low-carbon concrete benchmarks are opening the market for clinker-free binders. In Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, abundant industrial byproducts, rising precast production and carbon border pressure on exports create demand for cements and admixtures that cut embodied carbon without changing plant processes.

Launched in 2020; R&D hub in Middlesbrough and the Mevo A1 production facility in Wrexham, Wales, commissioned in October 2024. Backed by seed investors Playfair Capital, At One Ventures and SkyRiver, an Innovate UK grant and a GBP 15 million Series A led by KOMPAS VC and Norrsken VC. Partnerships with CRH, Tarmac, Google, Holcim and the Environment Agency.