Reimagining Green Cement with Elizabeth Gilligan, CEO, & Hayley Moller, Director of Marketing at Material Evolution | Season Eight, Episode Eleven

Welcome to Season Eight of Conversations in Cleantech!

 

From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to conversations on overcoming obstacles and fostering innovation, you can expect to learn from the trailblazers who are navigating the complexities of change to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.

 

In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, our hosts Jenny Gladman and Jo Clarke are joined by Elizabeth Gilligan, CEO, and Hayley Moller, Director of Marketing at Material Evolution - the trailblazing company reinventing cement for a low-carbon world.

 

Cement is one of the most carbon-intensive materials on Earth, responsible for around 8% of global emissions. But what if we could reimagine how it’s made entirely?

 

That’s exactly what Material Evolution is doing. Founded by Liz in her parents’ garage during the pandemic, the company is now scaling ultra-low carbon cement technology that cuts emissions by an incredible 85% compared to traditional methods. Joining forces with Hayley - a marketing and climate strategy powerhouse - the team is driven by an audacious vision: to remove a gigaton of carbon from the industry by 2040.

 

In this episode, we explore what it takes to scale green cement from scientific breakthrough to full-scale production - and the realities of building hardware in a hard-to-abate, change-resistant sector. From navigating the supply chain chaos of building their first-of-a-kind facility to the critical role of storytelling in driving industry adoption, Liz and Hayley share a raw and insightful account of entrepreneurship, impact, and purpose.

 

We also dive into the importance of women in climate tech and construction, the power of curiosity, and why legacy matters – whether you're founding a startup, welding silos (yes, really), or rethinking how we build the world around us.

 

01:22 - Introduction to Liz and Hayley
08:20 - Liz, can you explain what green cement is for those new to the concept?

10:56 - Taking it back to the beginning, how did the Material Evolution journey start in your parents' garage?

14:20 - Hayley, what drew you to join Material Evolution and its mission?
17:30 - What key challenges and learnings have you faced in your scaling journey?
23:55 - What’s next for Material Evolution?
26:27 - What role does storytelling play in changing mindsets and driving change, and how do you use it across the business to shift understanding in the sector?
30:00 - How do you identify each customer's personal driver, especially when you can't compete on cost alone?

32:40 - As women in both tech and construction - two traditionally male-dominated fields - what are you doing or seeing that might inspire other women to enter these spaces?

34:31 - Who has inspired each of you throughout your career, especially in making the leap from academia to industry?

 

Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Josephine Clarke, on LinkedIn.

Find your guests, Elizabeth Gilligan and Hayley Moller, on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

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