With an increased demand for more sustainable products within the construction industry, it poses the question as to whether you should have to compromise when choosing a sustainable concrete.

Of course, the answer is no. It’s become an expectation, rather than an exception within the industry, to incorporate and adopt a green approach in the way the construction sector uses its products and undertakes work - all with the inherent need to reduce their carbon footprint. With this, Net Zero 2050 has provided a fantastic incentive and challenge across the industry to protect our environment for future generations.

But what are the key drivers of sustainability within the construction industry and why is there such a need to go green?

The expectations of the community and the public: There is a huge, paramount expectation from the public and communities on construction firms to ‘do their bit’ in tackling climate change and mitigating its detrimental effects. Construction is very visible to the public, and it needs to be shown everything is being done to become more sustainable.

Changing workforce: The rise of a younger workforce and labour shortages will create pressure for improved environmental and social practices to be implemented, in order to retain and engage employees.

Climate change: The transition to a low-carbon economy is likely to increase physical, regulatory and brand impacts in a global effort to help climate change.

Client demand: Plain and simple, there is a growing demand by private, public sector organisations and local governments for more sustainable and socially responsible building projects.

Regulation and legislation: Over the next decade, changes to building codes and bylaws are expected to raise safety and environmental standards in order to improve the social and environmental impacts of construction.

Reducing carbon emissions has long been a goal of the construction industry. Aggregate Industries has always driven this, becoming the first materials supplier to achieve PAS 2080 verification by demonstrating continuous improvement in reducing the whole life carbon emissions across the entirety of our operations and supply chain.

Whether you’re aiming to reduce your carbon footprint, optimise mix designs or reduce the volume used, Aggregate Industries ECOPact range of low carbon concrete gives you the options of the same performance as traditional concrete.

With the launch of its ECOPact range of low carbon concretes in the UK, a number of options are offered which reduce the CO2 emissions of their concrete supply by between 30% and 70% compared to standard (CEM I) concrete:

ECOPact - 30-50% Carbon reduction

A low carbon concrete utilising blended cement, that has between 30-50% CO2 reduction compared to a standard concrete (CEMI) mix.

ECOPact Prime - 50-70% Carbon reduction

An engineered low carbon concrete utilising higher blends of cements using GGBS and FlyAsh substitutes. ECOPact Prime delivers between 50-70% CO2 reduction compared to a standard concrete (CEMI) mix.

ECOPact Max - Above 70% Carbon Reduction

Our lowest carbon range of concrete using cement alternative technology such as Geopolymers and alkaline activators, offering a minimum of 70% CO2 reduction compared to a standard concrete (CEMI) mix.

For more information on ECOPact, visit the product page here. Those interested in the ECOPact range can get a clear understanding of their individual requirements and potential carbon savings through using Aggregate Industries’ simple to use carbon calculator.