Global carbon ratings launched for concrete

GCCA unveils new carbon rating system for cement and concrete

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched a new Low Carbon Ratings system to help governments, contractors and clients identify lower carbon cement and concrete products. The system, announced on 24 April 2025, is the first global scheme of its kind and is designed to support more sustainable procurement across the construction sector.

The new ratings, graded from AA to G, are based on the embodied carbon of cement (per tonne) and concrete (per cubic metre), using data drawn from verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Products with lower global warming potential (GWP) will score higher on the scale, helping buyers compare materials and reduce carbon impact at specification stage.

Launching the scheme, Thomas Guillot, chief executive of the GCCA, said: “Cement and concrete are the foundations of modern life – from homes and hospitals to transport and clean energy. As demand for sustainable construction grows, the need for greater transparency around the carbon footprint of materials is more critical than ever.

“Our Low Carbon Ratings system supports more sustainable procurement practices and will empower the entire value chain to accelerate decarbonisation.”

The system is inspired by energy rating schemes like the EU’s energy performance certificates and the US home energy rating system. It is intended to be both visual and accessible, with a graphic label format that allows quick recognition of a product’s carbon score. Countries can adopt the system directly or adapt it to match national carbon accounting standards.

The rating framework has already been aligned with local systems in the UK and Germany, and is compatible with targets developed by the International Energy Agency and the GCCA’s own 2050 Net Zero Roadmap.

Riccardo Savigliano, head of energy systems and decarbonisation at UNIDO, described the launch as: “A huge step forward towards harmonising global definitions for low emission cement and concrete in support of decarbonisation.”

From a practical perspective, the system has been welcomed by construction firms for its potential to influence on-site decision-making. Marlène Dance, decarbonisation and sustainable design expert at Bouygues Bâtiment International, said: “We believe a globally consistent carbon rating system would be a game changer. A simple, user-friendly tool tailored for construction teams will help empower our site crews to better understand and manage the carbon footprint of the concrete they use.”

The GCCA says the tool can be applied to both public and private procurement, offering buyers a consistent way to evaluate the environmental performance of products. In the UK, where carbon transparency in construction is gaining momentum, the system could help standardise low carbon concrete specifications across major infrastructure and commercial projects.

For more information or to access the rating system, visit the GCCA website.