Laing O’Rourke has announced the signing of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zeotech Limited (ASX: ZEO), a leading Australian mineral processing technology company. This agreement represents a shared commitment to accelerating the adoption of sustainable building materials in the construction industry and reducing the embodied carbon footprint of infrastructure projects.
At the core of this collaboration is Zeotech’s proprietary AusPozz™ high-reactivity metakaolin, a material designed as an alternative to traditional cementitious additives. By incorporating AusPozz™ into concrete mixes, both companies aim to demonstrate the potential of advanced supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to lower carbon emissions while maintaining strength, durability, and workability standards required for large-scale infrastructure.
Exploring Low-Carbon Concrete Solutions
Under the MOU, Laing O’Rourke will conduct field trials of AusPozz™ in live project settings with nominated concrete suppliers. These trials are designed to test the material’s performance under real-world conditions and provide valuable data on scalability and long-term viability. If successful, AusPozz™ could become a cornerstone material for sustainable construction across Australia and beyond.
Speaking about the partnership, Hollie Hynes, General Manager – Sustainability and Environment at Laing O’Rourke, highlighted the urgent need for industry-wide collaboration to tackle emissions:
“Decarbonising construction is one of the most pressing challenges facing our industry, and it demands collaboration across the entire value chain. We’re pleased to be working with Zeotech to explore the potential of AusPozz™ as a low-carbon alternative in concrete. By trialling innovative materials like this on live projects, we can better understand their performance, scalability, and contribution to reducing embodied carbon, helping us deliver more sustainable infrastructure for our clients and communities.”
Her remarks underscore a broader industry trend: leading contractors are increasingly prioritising sustainable procurement and aligning operations with net-zero ambitions.
Transforming Infrastructure Through Innovation
Laing O’Rourke has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of sustainable construction. This MOU builds on its ongoing initiatives aimed at redefining how infrastructure is engineered and delivered, integrating innovation into every stage of the project lifecycle.
Dr. Ralf Dicke, Director of Strategy, Transformation and Innovation at Laing O’Rourke, emphasised that this collaboration goes beyond simple material substitution:
“The MOU marks a significant step in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon materials and reinforces Laing O’Rourke’s dedication to transforming how infrastructure is engineered and built.”
By testing materials like AusPozz™ on live projects, the company seeks not only to reduce carbon but also to demonstrate leadership in pioneering solutions that will influence industry standards.
Zeotech’s Commercialisation Pathway
For Zeotech, the partnership with Laing O’Rourke represents a major milestone in bringing its technology to market. James Marsh, Chief Executive Officer of Zeotech, explained:
“Partnering with Laing O’Rourke represents a strategic milestone in our commercialisation pathway for AusPozz™. Field trials on major infrastructure projects will provide critical validation of our product’s performance and sustainability credentials, supporting market adoption and unlocking future growth opportunities in the construction sector.”
Zeotech’s AusPozz™ metakaolin is designed to replace a portion of traditional cement in concrete production, a critical step given that cement manufacturing accounts for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions. By offering a supplementary cementitious material with high reactivity, the company aims to provide an option that reduces carbon while maintaining—or even improving—the performance characteristics required in demanding construction environments.
Industry Impact and Future Opportunities
The significance of this partnership extends beyond Laing O’Rourke and Zeotech. If the trials validate AusPozz™’s effectiveness, the material could see broader adoption across the construction sector, particularly in large-scale infrastructure and high-performance concrete applications. This would help address a key challenge in the industry: finding scalable, commercially viable alternatives to traditional Portland cement.
The MOU also highlights how strategic partnerships between technology developers and major contractors can accelerate the transition to more sustainable practices. By collaborating early in the innovation cycle, companies can share expertise, align with client sustainability goals, and ensure that new materials are tested in real-world conditions rather than confined to laboratories.
As governments and clients increasingly demand low-carbon solutions, initiatives like this will be critical in shaping the next generation of construction materials. The outcomes of the Laing O’Rourke–Zeotech trials are likely to be watched closely by industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors seeking practical pathways to decarbonisation.
