What is Low Carbon Concrete?
Concrete formulations that reduce carbon emissions through alternative materials, carbon capture during curing, or reduced cement content. Standard concrete production accounts for roughly 8% of global emissions.
Why it matters
Concrete is one of the most carbon-intensive materials in construction. Specifying lower-carbon alternatives can significantly reduce the embodied carbon of a project, which is becoming a competitive differentiator in planning applications and client tenders.
Example
A construction company replaces 30% of Portland cement with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) in its standard concrete mix. The switch reduces embodied carbon by 25% per cubic metre with no loss in structural performance.
Related terms
Embodied Carbon
The total greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction, manufacture, transport, and assembly of materials used in a product or building. Embodied carbon is distinct from operational emissions that occur during use.
Process Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions released directly from industrial processes, separate from energy combustion. Examples include CO₂ from cement production and chemical reactions in steel manufacturing.
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