Calls for carbon rating system for concrete

Experts have proposed a standardised carbon rating system to allow clients and designers to choose low-carbon concrete. The recommendation was made in the Low Carbon Concrete Routemap. The report is a result of a collaboration between the Green Construction Board and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). It brings together experts including the Concrete Centre, Mott MacDonald and Cemex.

The report sets out three decarbonisation routes to 2050. They are based on what action the industry takes and how fast carbon sequestration in concrete advances.

Even under the most modest route, emissions are expected to fall from 10m tonnes CO2e in 2022 to 5m tonnes in 2035. Under the most optimistic scenario, the concrete industry could absorb more greenhouse gases than it emits in the 2040s.

And the report predicts this will lead to cost savings, ranging from £2.5bn to £10.5bn by 2050, depending on how quickly the industry decarbonises.

The recommendations for clients, designers, contractors and suppliers include:

• An industry-wide rating system to disclose the carbon embedded in different concrete mixtures.
• Options for reducing the cement content. These include using limestone and calcined clays as fly ash and blast furnace slag become less available.
• Design approaches that use less concrete or lower-carbon concrete, such as using voids, coffers, non-structural fill and smaller spans between columns.
• Giving concrete suppliers maximum time and flexibility to choose a mix that meets the requirements with the minimum carbon.
• Updating technical standards to reflect the priority of reducing carbon and the latest materials and techniques.

Andrew Mullholland, Chair of the Low Carbon Concrete Group and co-author of the report, said: "The next 10 to 15 years are critical in driving the carbon out of concrete. There are steps we can all take immediately to minimise the quantity of concrete we use and the carbon intensity of production, and this change should be driven by clients. This will require motivation and substantial effort from across the industry."

Andy Mitchell, co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said: "This report pulls together a wealth of practical advice and best practice from across the industry. But more importantly, it charts a route forward to net zero which must increasingly be the guiding principle of every construction project. I call on peers across the industry to read this report and take up its recommendations as soon as possible."

This article first appeared in the CIAT website news section under the same name on May 2 and is available here.

The ICE published report discussed above 'Low Carbon Concrete Routemap' can be downloaded here.

--CIAT

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Comments

1. Motivation: The primary motivation for advocating a carbon rating system for concrete is to promote transparency and accountability regarding the carbon emissions associated with concrete production and use. By quantifying and rating the carbon footprint of concrete, stakeholders can make informed decisions to reduce their environmental impact.
2. Environmental Concerns: Concrete production involves the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) during the cement manufacturing process (calcination) and the energy required for transportation, mixing, and curing. Concrete is a major contributor to the construction industry's overall carbon emissions.
3. Carbon Rating and Certification: A carbon rating system for concrete would involve assessing the lifecycle emissions of concrete products, from raw material extraction to production, transportation, use, and eventual disposal. Various certification and rating systems already exist, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for buildings, which awards points for the use of low-carbon concrete.
4. Measurement and Reporting: Implementing a carbon rating system requires accurate measurement and reporting of carbon emissions associated with concrete production. This involves collecting data on materials, energy sources, and production processes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies are commonly used for this purpose.
5. Market Incentives: A carbon rating system can create market incentives for the use of low-carbon concrete. Builders, architects, and developers may choose to use concrete products with lower carbon ratings to meet sustainability goals or regulatory requirements.
6. Innovation and Research: The development of a carbon rating system can drive innovation in the concrete industry, encouraging the development of alternative cementitious materials and more energy-efficient production methods.