International definitions for low carbon cement and concrete

A construction materials and concrete site. (Image: Adobe Stock)

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.

GCCA members represent 80% of cement production capacity outside of China, as well as a number of leading Chinese manufacturers.

German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, launched the definitions alongside the GCCA.

“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 decarbonisation of sectors such as cement and concrete,” said Habeck.

GCCA said that it used the 2022 work by International Energy Agency (IEA) for G7 on cement production as a starting point and that the definitions have been developed with public and private procurement in mind. The definitions are designed to be used with local benchmarks and targets to reflect different challenges, opportunities and rate of decarbonisation.

Low carbon procurement of projects and products is a key driver for decarbonisation of the built environment.

The definitions can be viewed here.