GreenJams: Reengineering Construction Chemistry for a Low-Carbon Future

For decades, the story of construction has been built on strength, scale, and speed but rarely on sustainability at the material level. Today, that story is beginning to change. As the environmental cost of traditional building practices becomes harder to ignore, innovators are reimagining the very substances that hold our cities together.

In this conversation, Tarun Jami, Founder of GreenJams, discusses how breakthroughs in construction chemistry are opening the door to cement-free and even carbon-negative materials, marking a significant shift in how the built environment can evolve in a climate-conscious world.

1. What makes BINDR mineral-activated binder a breakthrough alternative to traditional clinker-based cement?

The breakthrough lies in changing the chemistry of the binder itself. Traditional Portland cement relies on clinker production, which requires temperatures of around 1,450°C and releases large amounts of CO₂ from both fuel combustion and limestone calcination.

BINDR, by contrast, is a mineral-activated binder that eliminates clinker entirely. It utilises industrial mineral streams such as slag and other mineral by-products, activated through advanced chemistry to produce high-performance binding systems for construction materials.

This approach dramatically reduces embodied carbon while maintaining the strength and durability required for modern construction. Crucially, it achieves this at a cost comparable to conventional cement, removing the “green premium” that has historically slowed adoption of sustainable materials. In essence, BINDR shows that decarbonising construction does not require sacrificing performance or affordability, it requires reinventing the chemistry that holds our buildings together.

2. How is GreenJams leveraging materials science to significantly reduce embodied carbon in construction?

At GreenJams, the focus is not incremental improvement but materials-level innovation. We approach construction through the lens of chemistry and mineral engineering, redesigning binders and material systems to eliminate carbon-intensive processes. Our proprietary binder platform, BINDR, replaces clinker-based cement across applications such as mortars, masonry units, plasters, and precast products. Building on this foundation, we have developed material systems such as Novastone, a family of cement-free construction products with up to 80% lower embodied carbon, and Agrocrete®, a carbon-negative bio-concrete that mineralises agricultural residues and stores biogenic carbon permanently within building materials.

The goal is simple: move the industry from carbon-intensive materials to climate-positive material systems.

3. In what ways does the Novastone platform help developers meet sustainability and ESG targets without increasing project costs?

One of the biggest barriers to sustainable construction has historically been the “green premium.” Our objective with the Novastone platform was to remove that barrier entirely.

Novastone products—such as masonry blocks, pavers, and precast elements—are manufactured using the BINDR mineral-activated binder, enabling up to 80% lower embodied carbon compared to conventional cement-based products, while remaining cost competitive with traditional materials.

Beyond emissions reduction, these materials also help projects achieve measurable benefits under green building rating systems such as LEED, IGBC, and GRIHA. Depending on how they are deployed in a project, Novastone, BINDR, and Agrocrete can contribute toward multiple credits related to low-embodied carbon materials, recycled content, regional materials, and innovation in design. In many projects, this can translate to 4–8 points or more across different certification categories, which can be significant for developers targeting higher certification levels.

For developers, the value proposition is straightforward: lower embodied carbon, improved ESG performance, and meaningful contributions toward green building certifications—without increasing project costs.

4. How do partnerships with precast manufacturers support scalable climate solutions in the construction ecosystem?

Decarbonising construction requires scale, and scale cannot be achieved through centralised production alone.

GreenJams’ strategy is to partner with precast product manufacturers across the country, enabling them to produce low-carbon construction materials using the BINDR platform within their existing facilities. This decentralised manufacturing model allows rapid capacity expansion without duplicating infrastructure.

These partnerships also strengthen local supply chains, reduce transportation emissions, and accelerate market adoption. By empowering existing manufacturers to produce next-generation materials, we can transform the construction ecosystem far faster than by building factories ourselves.

5. How can low-carbon materials transform buildings from carbon emitters into measurable climate assets?

Traditionally, buildings have been viewed primarily as sources of emissions—both operational and embodied. The next evolution is to design buildings that actively contribute to climate solutions.

Low-carbon materials reduce the emissions associated with construction, but carbon-negative materials go a step further by storing carbon within the built environment. For example, materials like Agrocrete mineralise agricultural fibres within a durable mineral matrix, permanently locking biogenic carbon inside building components.

As carbon accounting frameworks evolve, these materials can enable buildings to become measurable carbon assets, capable of generating verified climate benefits over their lifecycle. In the future, the materials used in construction will be evaluated not only by structural performance and cost, but also by their carbon performance and climate value.