An Aramco circular construction initiative is exploring ways to turn concrete waste into paving slabs and other useful products.
Aramco Europe Quality Management Division Supervisor Loai Al Owa will present a paper on the project at an industry conference in Paris this month.
He said: “Fresh concrete quality control testing is a standard practice in construction projects, yet it results in the routine disposal of high-quality concrete samples.
“To help reduce this waste, an Aramco team working on a major gas plant project explored whether this material could be repurposed into reusable elements.”
These included approximately 1,400 paving slabs, 500,000 spacers, and other items such as bollards and barriers.
Al Owa is scheduled to present the project at the 11th International Conference on Structural Engineering and Concrete Technology in Paris from April 16-18, 2026.
The program is part of a broader portfolio of circular economy initiatives across different Aramco business lines, at different stages of development, aimed at reducing waste and improving material efficiency.
Plastic highways
The circular economy represents a model of production and consumption which involves using and reusing existing materials and products for as long as possible, diverting them from landfills and the environment.
Aramco engineers have also explored the use of recycled plastic bottles in asphalt mixes for road construction. Early applications at sites including Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Energy Park and other Aramco facilities have indicated potential for improved durability and reduced maintenance requirements compared to conventional materials, subject to project conditions and long-term performance evaluation.
After water, concrete is the most widely-used material on earth and is also responsible for around 7-8% of annual global CO2 emissions.
From pour to cure
Aramco has also explored the potential use of captured CO2 in the concrete ‘curing’ process, which controls moisture loss as the material hardens. In collaboration with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), research has examined how CO2 can be incorporated into concrete during curing. Laboratory and pilot-scale results have indicated the potential to reduce curing time and enhance certain durability characteristics, such as lower water permeability and greater chlorine and sulfate resistance.
Aramco has also worked with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) on technical studies that explore opportunities to maximize the use of recycled plastic and rubber in concrete, with further research ongoing.
Such initiatives support Aramco’s broader material transition efforts, which focus on advancing innovation, research, and investment to improve how materials are produced, used, and managed over their lifecycle.
