A global rating system that will enable cement and concrete to be identified based on their carbon footprints has been launched by GCCA.
The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has designed the Low Carbon Ratings (LCR) for Cement and Concrete to help make sustainability a priority when selecting construction materials.
The AA to G scale LCR system is designed to be highly visual to enable construction companies, the private sector, policymakers, and governments to make more informed choices. The system uses numerical definitions in units of embodied carbon dioxide equivalent per tonne for cement and per cubic metre of concrete product.
Chief Executive of GCCA, Thomas Guillot, believes there is a need for greater transparency around carbon footprints of construction materials as demand for sustainable construction grows.
“Our Low Carbon Ratings system supports more sustainable procurement practices and will empower the entire value chain to accelerate decarbonisation,” he said.
GCCA said countries can adopt the system as it is or adapt it if local carbon accounting differs from global norms. The UK has done this, and the German Cement Association (VDZ) already has its Cement Carbon Class (CCC) system up and running.
Image: GCCA.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com