Sources: Global Cement and Concrete Association, London; CP staff
The eight-scale Low Carbon Ratings for Cement and Concrete (LCR) is presented as a “first-of-its-kind, simple, transparent, and adaptable tool that helps builders, architects, governments, planners, and consumers everywhere in the world to make more informed and sustainable choices.” The Global Cement and Concrete Association has formatted LCR to be used with environmental product declarations, whose global warming potential metrics represent numerical definitions in units of embodied carbon dioxide equivalent per ton of cement or cubic yard of concrete. Ratings for concrete can be charted according to government- or code-driven targets for concrete mix design clinker factor, i.e. percent of portland cement in binder.
SAMPLE CEMENT RATING
“As global demand for sustainable construction grows, the need for greater transparency around the carbon footprint of construction materials is more critical than ever,” says GCCA Chief Executive Thomas Guillot. “Our Low Carbon Ratings system supports more sustainable procurement practices and will empower the entire value chain to accelerate decarbonization.”
“We believe a globally consistent carbon rating system—adopted by all countries and used by all concrete suppliers—would be a game changer,” adds Marlène Dance, Decarbonization & Sustainable Design expert for Bouygues Bâtiment International, a global contractor with headquarters outside Paris. “We see great value in a simple, user-friendly tool, tailored for construction teams. It will help empower our site crews to better understand and manage the carbon footprint of the concrete they use.”
“With this rating system in place, governments, policymakers and the private sector can now prioritize lower carbon cement and concrete in the procurement process, which will in turn further stimulate the industry’s focus on decarbonizing these essential building materials,” Guillot concludes.