How can we reduce the embodied carbon of structural concrete?

Will Arnold, Jenny Burridge, David Moore, Keerthi Ranasinghe and Sean Wilkins argue that engineers should always look to specify the most suitable material for a particular project, and offer advice on how to use materials efficiently once a choice is made.

At this paper launch event, the authors of this paper outline how to use GGBS in order to reduce global emissions.

Appendix A of Eurocode 2 permits a reduction in material partial factors for reinforcing steel and concrete. Designing elements with the reduced material partial factors reduces the amount of reinforcement steel required, hence a reduction in embodied carbon and energy, without any loss of performance.