A coalition of 17 firms including Skanska, Laing O’Rourke, and Mace, has pledged to only purchase net-zero concrete by 2050.
The group, known as ConcreteZero, has also committed to the interim targets of using 30% low emission concrete by 2025 and 50% by 2030.
The global initiative, which aims to decarbonise the concrete sector, was launched by Climate Group, World GBC, and WBCSD on Tuesday.
Industry must ‘innovate and act now on emissions’
“It’s time for concrete targets to reduce carbon emissions in years not decades,” said Jen Carson, head of industry at the Climate Group. “ConcreteZero is signalling to the industry that the biggest buyers want the industry to innovate and act now on emissions.”
An energy-intensive process largely reliant on fossil fuels, concrete production is estimated to account for around 8% of global carbon emissions – more than both shipping and air travel combined.
At present there is no globally-agreed definition for what is considered net zero and low emission concrete.
ConcreteZero members are therefore required to measure and report on CO2 emissions associated with the concrete they use, with a view to using that data to help establish a clear standard and greater clarity for suppliers and policymakers, the group explained.
Further reading:
- Cambridge startup Mimicrete gets cash injection for ‘self-healing concrete’
- Holcim invests in firm that makes concrete carbon negative
- Meta uses AI to create ‘sustainable’ concrete for data centres
The other contractors to have signed up to the pledge are Willmott Dixon, Morrisroe, Byrne Bros, The Carey Group, Clancy Group, Lendlease, and Multiplex Construction Europe.
They are joined by property developers Grosvenor, Canary Wharf Group, Amazon, and Joseph Homes, and consultants Ramboll UK, Grimshaw Architects, WSP and Buro Happold.
Philippa Spence, managing director of Ramboll UK, commented: “This fantastic initiative is a very important and vital step in the decarbonisation of our built environment.
“The impetus to deliver an impact fast, through collective industry effort and baseline concrete carbon reporting will prove essential for our net zero future.”
Read next: Holcim invests in firm that makes concrete carbon negative
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