Architects, engineers and builders around the world will soon have an easy way to assess the carbon footprint of concrete products which are used in buildings or infrastructure.

(above image: AI generated via freepik.com)

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched the Low Carbon Ratings (LCR) for Cement and Concrete.

The new rating system is inspired by schemes such as the European Union’s Energy Performance Certificates and the US Home Energy Rating System.

It will provide a simple tool through which the carbon performance of different concrete products from across the world can be compared.

For each product, the tool will provide a rating on a scale of AA to G. Ratings will be displayed in a simple visual graphic.

The tool’s launch comes as the world’s concrete industry is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint.

Around the world, around 30 billion tonnes of concrete is used each year. This makes concrete the most widely used construction material.

However, the material has a high environmental footprint and is responsible for around seven percent of worldwide carbon emissions.

These emissions arise out of the process which is involved in the formation of clinker.

Clinker is the main component of Portland Cement, which in turn is combined with water and aggregates such as gravel and sand to produce concrete.

In order to form clinker, raw materials such as limestone, clay and iron ore are heated in a rotary kiln at extremely high temperatures of around 1,400 to 1,500 degrees Celsius.

This produces intensive carbon emissions as:

• The heating of the limestone causes a chemical reaction which breaks the material down into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. This process is known as calcination.
• Massive amounts of energy are used during the heating process. This is significant and kilns are generally fired with fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or oil.

As a result, the industry is acting.

In 2022, GCCA launched a roadmap which outlined actions that are needed to deliver a net zero industry by 2050.

(concrete which is made using low carbon materials or recycled materials could play a significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of the concrete industry. Image source: SmartCrete CRC)

The new rating tool aims to deliver confidence and transparency with regard to the carbon footprint of different concrete products from around the world.

In turn, this will help to drive demand for low carbon products and will support decarbonisation efforts.

As things stand, understanding the carbon footprint of different concrete products has been difficult.  So too has been comparing products across different countries.

The rating system is designed to be used with Environmental Product Declarations, which by definition are verified by third parties.

Thomas Guillot, CEO of GCCA, welcomed the launch.

“Cement and concrete are the foundations of modern life – from the buildings we live and work in, to the roads we travel, and the infrastructure that supports clean water and green energy,” Guillot said.

“As global demand for sustainable construction grows, the need for greater transparency around the carbon footprint of construction materials is more critical than ever.

“Our Low Carbon Ratings system supports more sustainable procurement practices and will empower the entire value chain to accelerate decarbonisation.”

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