Concrete is the backbone of modern construction, but it is also a major contributor to global carbon emissions. The production of cement, a key ingredient in concrete, accounts for approximately 8% of worldwide CO₂ emissions.

Reducing the carbon footprint of concrete isn't just an environmental necessity—it's an imperative.

Governments worldwide are responding, setting ambitious targets for carbon reduction. Innovations for lower-carbon concretes are attracting start-ups, investors, and industry giants. The potential market is vast, if new solutions work, and if they can deliver lower-carbon alternatives at cost parity. But not all new concretes are the same, cost parity is challenging, and de-risking the investments for scaling is a work in progress.

The Lower-Carbon Concrete Task Force is tackling these roadblocks through this guide and case studies - designed to educate owners, designers, contractors, and material suppliers on navigating the shift toward lower-carbon concrete.

• The guide outlines responsible parties’ roles and how to make the ask for lower-carbon concrete. It also shows how US standards and codes already allow for new materials, when validating test data are provided.

• The case studies are risk-managed test trials, showing how we can responsibly create and share the information needed to move new innovations toward market and project ready status.

Every project is an opportunity to take action. These case studies show how.

Case study concrete placement with ASTM C1157 cement