# Literally unearthing a climate solution with Cody Finke of Brimstone

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-11-16
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone

## Summary

Cody Finke, co-founder and CEO of Brimstone, explains how his company is decarbonizing cement production by replacing limestone with calcium silicate rocks like basalt. He details the chemical process that eliminates process emissions and creates a magnesium byproduct that passively sequesters CO2, making the material carbon-negative. Finke discusses the strategic pivot from developing novel materials to producing ordinary Portland cement to ensure rapid adoption by the construction industry, and outlines the path from lab validation to pilot plants and eventual commercial scaling.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=0) Introduction: Cody Finke and the Cement Problem
- [1:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=109) Early Ventures: Solar Toilets and Water Electrolysis
- [5:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=323) Identifying Cement as the Key Climate Lever
- [7:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=453) The Chemistry of Limestone and CO2 Emissions
- [14:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=894) Strategic Pivot to Ordinary Portland Cement
- [19:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=1168) The Calcium Silicate Solution and Carbon Sequestration
- [23:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=1386) Brimstone's Business Model and Scaling Strategy
- [25:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-16-literally-unearthing-a-climate-solution-with-cody-finke-of-brimstone#t=1522) Commercialization, Patents, and Future Plants

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Brimstone (company)
- Caltech (other)
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (company)
- IPCC (other)
- Impossible Foods (company)
- CME (company)
- Alamo (company)
- Cal Portland (company)
- Miro (tool)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Reinventing Cement: The Breakthrough That Could Cut 8% of Global Emissions with Greg Williams](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-03-27-reinventing-cement-the-breakthrough-that-could-cut-8-of-global-emissions-with-gr) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Fixing cement’s carbon problem](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-11-17-fixing-cements-carbon-problem) (Catalyst)
- [120. Carbon Soaking Concrete](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-05-02-120-carbon-soaking-concrete) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Re-Engineering Chemical Production for Carbon Dioxide Removal with Dr. Laura Lammers, Founder and CEO of Travertine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-11-24-re-engineering-chemical-production-for-carbon-dioxide-removal-with-dr-laura-lamm) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [A Mission to Decarbonize the Construction Industry with Keegan Kirkpatrick, Founder and CEO of RedWorks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-29-a-mission-to-decarbonize-the-construction-industry-with-keegan-kirkpatrick-found) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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