Assessing the embodied carbon of concrete and specifying limits or targets is increasingly important for the United Kingdom's construction sector.
This note summarises the three methods of assessing embodied carbon of concrete relevant for the UK construction sector. It shows how their benchmarks can be used in combination to effectively set policy for, specify, and assess embodied carbon of concrete. This is an especially timely note as the importance of accurate data to identify and tackle emissions for materials such as concrete gains greater focus.
This note finds that use of static and dynamic benchmarks are a powerful combination to drive decarbonisation. Static benchmarks like the Universal Classification or Global Banding can be used to define a pathway to net zero. They can be used in conjunction with the dynamic Market Benchmark (which change as the embodied carbon of concrete sold on the market changes) to specify concrete that meets the pathway and is commercially available for the proposed use.
Looking ahead, the note finds further work is required to develop guidance for the upper limit on the embodied carbon ratings for different uses (and regions) to ensure that the average embodied carbon of all concrete used across a portfolio, or nation, will be in accordance with the selected pathway to net zero.
Thanks to the authors of this note, Bruce Martin of Expedition Engineering and Dr Fragkoulis Kanavaris of Arup.
This guidance note has been prepared by the LCCG. The scope was determined following conversations with the ICG, the MPA (The Concrete Centre), Concrete Zero, LCCG, and Innovate UK. Thanks to the following individuals who formed the Steering Group for this paper:
- Andrew Kidd, National Highways
- Andy Powell, Environment Agency
- Ben Azoula Victory, Love Concrete
- David Mason, Skanska
- Hugh Faulkner, Innovate UK
- Iva Munro, ConcreteZero
- Jimmy Barnett Thorne, WSP
The paper is endorsed by Infrastructure Client Group, UK Low Carbon Concrete Group, ConcreteZero, Green Construction Board, and Institute of Concrete Technology.
