A landmark initiative by GCCA with multigovernmental organisations sets low carbon concrete definitions for sustainable procurement
The concrete industry is at a pivotal moment in its sustainability journey, and an aspect of this is the need for low carbon procurement. Responding to this, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), through a process involving wide stakeholder engagement including with the Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI), has introduced numerical definitions for low-carbon and near-zero emissions concrete.
These GCCA definitions are closely linked to the IEA low-carbon cement criteria which were developed under the German presidency of the G7 in 2022, creating a cohesive and measurable framework for low carbon concrete production and procurement. This initiative provides industry stakeholders – such as countries, producers and project teams - with clear definitions to compare with existing performance, set targets, and track progress. By standardising these efforts across the global construction sector, the GCCA and IDDI aim to foster consistency, encourage collaboration, and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon solutions.
The GCCA definitions work with existing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and are configured to permit national adaptation of the definitions if needed to recognise local EPD standards and practice. This national adaptation retains global consistency of the definition bandings/ratings. This is of value and benefit, and even a goal, of countries, producers and project teams.
Background
The Global GCCA Definitions, developed with global stakeholders including the Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI), introduces a pioneering banding system that categorises concrete products based on their carbon footprint which is globally consistent but also nationally applicable. The system uses Global Warming Potential (GWP) from Environmental Product Declarations measured in units of embodied carbon dioxide equivalent per cubic metre of product (ECO₂e/m³).
Building on International Energy Agency (IEA) cement definitions, the GCCA definitions recognise that rules and customs for EPDs vary globally, and that global definitions might need national adaptation whilst fulfilling the criteria of consistency and comparability.
Global Definitions for Low Carbon and Near Zero Emissions Concrete
Seven distinct bands (AA through G) are introduced, with Band AA representing near-zero emissions concrete and Band E serving as the global reference threshold. The development of these bands followed a data-driven process. The GCCA, in collaboration with regional associations, collected data from major cement-producing countries to establish the Global Reference Threshold (top of Band E). This threshold was determined using "good practice" Ordinary Portland Cement and concrete mix designs, weighted by each country's cement output.
To estimate the Near Zero Emissions Product (top of Band AA), key assumptions included a reduction in clinker content to 0.52, alignment of cement's carbon footprint with IEA's near-zero definition, and a 14% decrease in cement usage per unit volume of concrete. Additionally, it was assumed that all other materials, transport, and manufacturing processes will have a zero-carbon footprint.
After establishing the global reference threshold (top of Band E) and the near-zero emissions threshold (AA), five equal bands (A to E) are defined between these points. Two additional bands complete the system: Band F, extending above Band E, and Band G, which has no upper limit. This structure ensures all concrete products and producers can be included in the procurement process, providing countries with necessary flexibility in implementation.
Figure 1: Global Definitions for Low Carbon and Near Zero Emissions Concrete
Selection of targets and ambition
A country can use the global definitions to define targets and ambition. This approach is adaptable, taking into account the varying degrees of progress and opportunities for decarbonisation that different countries have.
Targets and ambitions need to be defined for each concrete strength or product separately. The Global Definitions graph is transformed into a new format where time is on the x-axis (Figure 2), enabling countries to set targets that become more stringent over time for different concrete strengths or products. These time-based targets allow for a progressive reduction in GWP, tailored to each country's circumstances.
Figure 2: Transforming global banding thresholds into targets by different countries. Country A target is for 100% of concrete with a GWP value below a decreasing target starting at the global reference threshold in 2020. Country B, being more advanced in the decarbonisation journey, has a more ambitions starting point: a target to procure 80% of concrete with a GWP below band D and 20% below band C.
Measuring and reporting
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are the preferred method for measuring a product's carbon footprint in low-carbon procurement because they offer established standards that simplify comparisons across construction materials. With a global infrastructure for creating and verifying EPDs, they provide a consistent and reliable approach. Each EPD includes a GWP indicator, making carbon footprint assessment straightforward. Additionally, construction professionals are more familiar with EPDs than other methods, and the transparency provided by EPD standards and Product Category Rules (PCRs) ensures clear definitions of environmental impacts throughout a product's life cycle.
For reporting to the IDDI, countries may provide data on the volume of concrete production within each GWP band. Reporting may range from simple, where only the percentage of production in each band is provided, to more detailed, where volumes are broken down by concrete strength and band. This detailed reporting enables the calculation of aggregated GWP figures weighted by production volume. The details of national reporting have not been finalised.
Regional Flexibility
Understanding that different regions may have varying calculation methods and standards, the definitions allow for an adaptation process. This approach allows countries to adapt the global thresholds to their local context while maintaining international comparability.
This international comparability is perhaps one of the most significant benefits of this methodology. The method overcomes a problem: GWP values from EPDs developed using different local standards or application are not comparable – it is comparing apples and pears. But if these GWP values are then compared with the locally adapted GCCA global AA to G definitions, then the bandings that arise are comparable - it is then comparing oranges and oranges.
Conclusion
The GCCA global concrete definitions build on the IEA cement production definitions published in May 2022, align with the needs of the multilateral government Clean Energy Ministerial’ s Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative and has benefitted from input and refinement from their stakeholder group.
The GCCA global concrete definitions align with the GCCA global cement definitions, which are closely aligned to IEA cement production definitions. They also align with the GCCA cement industry's 2050 roadmap for net-zero concrete.
The static definitions enable clear communication of what product is to be specified and purchased, and clear reporting of what has been built with. The expectation is that they are used with local procurement targets that become more stringent over time – dynamic targets -and that these initially will be based on local current data and in time will be reviewed to accord with local roadmaps to net zero.
The definitions can be adapted to accommodate local EPD practises, whilst retaining global consistency of bands.
With these definitions in place, countries and regions can develop clear, measurable targets for low-carbon concrete procurement while maintaining flexibility for local conditions.
For detailed technical specifications and implementation guidelines, industry professionals can access the complete documentation here .
