Advancing the Circular Economy: Construction Materials That Capture Carbon and Reduce Carbon Emissions

In this episode of Deanna’s Dialogues: Navigating Carbon Sustainability, Deanna Reitman interviews Joshua McGuire, an innovative entrepreneur whose journey in sustainable concrete began with experiments in his father’s factory and culminated in the creation of Builder’s Crete — a concrete product that utilizes sawdust waste to replace traditional stone aggregates.

The conversation tackles a number of topics, including:

• Josh discusses how his process not only reduces carbon emissions but also entombs carbon dioxide permanently within the concrete, making it net neutral or negative compared to conventional production.
• He shares insights into the economic and ecological advantages of using lumber industry byproducts, the potential for affordable, consumer-friendly green building materials, and the critical role of legal and business partnerships in scaling sustainable solutions.
• The episode highlights the intersection of law, carbon markets and innovation, emphasizing how business and legal skills can help drive environmental stewardship and transform the future of infrastructure for economic and societal benefit.

Listeners have come away inspired by Josh’s vision for accessible sustainability and the collaborative spirit needed to advance the circular economy in the built environment.