GCCA launches definitions for low-carbon concrete products
International definitions crucial aid to help fast-track procurement of green cement and concrete
THE Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched its international definitions for low-carbon cement and concrete. The definitions are seen as crucial to providing a key reference point for anyone that wants to be able to identify and buy green cement and concrete across the world.
The industry, in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders along the value chain, including governments and organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), Climate Club, and Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative facilitated by UNIDO, has evolved and refined definitions for green concrete that are global and customizable to local practice, whilst retaining international consistency and comparability. The definitions use the environmental product declaration (EPD) accounting method that is well established in the construction value chain for products, particularly cement and concrete.
The GCCA used the 2022 work by IEA for G7 on cement production as a robust starting point and this has been developed with public and private procurement in mind. With low-carbon procurement of projects and products being a key driver for decarbonization of the built environment, the definitions are designed to be used with local benchmarks and targets to reflect different challenges, opportunities, and rate of decarbonization.
Commenting on the launch of the definitions at the COP29 climate summit, Robert Habeck, German Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, said: ‘This is a big step forward towards delivering a greener built environment and a greener global economy. Lead markets for low-carbon basic materials are an important component of the policy landscape to support decarbonization of sectors such as cement and concrete.
‘During the German G7 presidency the energy and climate ministers agreed on the IEA definitions being a robust starting point for the work internationally. We are delighted that this work has been built upon by the GCCA to publish low-carbon and near-zero definitions for concrete products.’
Thomas Guillot, chief executive of the GCCA, whose members represent 80% of cement production capacity outside of China, as well as several leading Chinese manufacturers, said: ‘Building on our net-zero commitment, this is an important advancement on our journey towards net zero. We now call on policymakers, governments, and the private sector to procure green cement and concrete and provide the key signals to our sector to accelerate decarbonization.’
