The GCCA has introduced global numerical definitions for low carbon and near zero emissions concrete. Developed with governments and industry, they give countries, producers and project teams a common basis for low-carbon procurement.
Update: these definitions have since been put into practice as the GCCA Global Low Carbon Ratings for concrete and cement.
The concrete industry is at a pivotal point in its sustainability journey, and low-carbon procurement is a key part of it. In response, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has introduced numerical definitions for low carbon and near zero emissions concrete. They were developed through wide stakeholder engagement, including with the Clean Energy Ministerial's Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI).
The definitions build on the International Energy Agency (IEA) low-emission cement definitions developed under Germany's G7 presidency in 2022. Together they create a clear, measurable framework for producing and buying low carbon concrete. Countries, producers and project teams can use them to compare current performance, set targets and track progress. By standardising this approach across the global construction sector, the GCCA and IDDI aim to encourage consistency and collaboration and speed up the adoption of low-carbon solutions.
The definitions work with existing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). They can be adapted nationally to reflect local EPD standards and practice, while keeping the bands globally consistent.
The definitions introduce a banding system that classifies concrete products by their carbon footprint. It is globally consistent but can be applied nationally. The system uses the Global Warming Potential (GWP) reported in EPDs, in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per cubic metre of concrete (kg CO₂e/m³).
Rules and customs for EPDs vary around the world, so the definitions allow national adaptation while keeping results consistent and comparable.
The system has eight bands, from AA to G. Band AA represents near zero emissions concrete, and the top of Band E is the global reference threshold. The bands were set using data. The GCCA worked with regional associations to collect data from major cement-producing countries and set the global reference threshold (the top of Band E). This threshold is based on "good practice" Ordinary Portland Cement and concrete mix designs, weighted by each country's cement output.
The near zero emissions threshold (the top of Band AA) is based on these assumptions:
Between the near zero threshold (AA) and the global reference threshold (top of E), five equal bands are defined (A to E). Two further bands complete the system: Band F above Band E, and Band G, which has no upper limit. This means every concrete product and producer can be included in procurement, and countries have the flexibility they need.
Figure 1: Global definitions for low carbon and near zero emissions concrete
Countries can use the global definitions to set their own targets and level of ambition, reflecting their progress and their opportunities to decarbonise.
Targets should be set separately for each concrete strength or product. The definitions chart can be redrawn with time on the horizontal axis (Figure 2). This lets countries set targets that tighten over time for each concrete strength or product, so that GWP falls progressively in a way that suits local circumstances.
Figure 2: Turning the global bands into national targets. Country A targets 100% of concrete below a threshold that starts at the global reference threshold in 2020 and falls over time. Country B, further along its decarbonisation journey, starts with a more ambitious target: 80% of concrete below Band D and 20% below Band C.
EPDs are the preferred way to measure a product's carbon footprint for low-carbon procurement:
For reporting to the IDDI, countries may provide the volume of concrete produced in each GWP band. This can be simple, giving only the share of production in each band, or detailed, breaking volumes down by strength and band. Detailed reporting allows an overall GWP, weighted by production volume, to be calculated. The details of national reporting had not been finalised at the time of publication.
Regions use different calculation methods and standards, so the definitions include an adaptation process. Countries can adjust the global thresholds to their local context while keeping international comparability.
This international comparability is one of the most important benefits of the method. GWP values from EPDs produced under different local standards are not directly comparable: it is like comparing apples and pears. But once each value is placed in the locally adapted GCCA bands, the resulting bands can be compared like for like.
The GCCA global concrete definitions build on the IEA cement definitions published in May 2022. They meet the needs of the Clean Energy Ministerial's Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative and have been refined with input from its stakeholder group.
They align with the GCCA global cement definitions, which closely follow the IEA definitions, and with the GCCA 2050 roadmap for net zero concrete.
The definitions are fixed, so they make it clear what should be specified and bought, and what has been built. They are intended to be used with local procurement targets that tighten over time. These targets will start from current local data and, over time, be aligned with local roadmaps to net zero.
The definitions can be adapted to local EPD practice while keeping the bands globally consistent. With them, countries and regions can set clear, measurable targets for low-carbon concrete procurement while keeping flexibility for local conditions.
The full technical documentation and implementation guidance are available on the GCCA website.