Sustainable Concrete Materials are environmentally responsible, making Concrete a natural choice for sustainable construction.

The “Whole-life performance” of sustainable concrete materials and concrete buildings is the key to concrete’s sustainability credentials. The sustainability of any material is intrinsically linked to its service life or years of use. Taking the performance of concrete from raw material extraction, manufacture, transport, construction and use of the building to end-of-life disposal or reuse, it is easy to see why concrete is the overwhelming construction material of choice throughout the world.

Built to Last

Concrete buildings are built to last and to be flexible and adaptable, meaning that buildings can be easily reconverted and internal layout can be easily changed to accommodate any design, thereby reducing the environmental impact of concrete over its lifetime.

Fire Safe

Concrete is non-combustible, thereby ensuring its longevity, protecting lives and reducing the economic damage caused by fires. Concrete is designated by the European Union as a Class A1 building material (non-combustible).

Energy Efficient

Concrete’s thermal mass reduces energy consumption and moderates internal temperatures thereby reducing costs. As the use of buildings accounts for the largest part of their environmental impact, thermal mass in buildings offsets the impact resulting from the production of concrete itself. As concrete buildings have very few joints or connections and maintain their structure over time, air-tightness is achieved, which also saves energy.

Comfortable

Concrete offers excellent acoustic performance requiring very little additional materials and improving quality of life particularly in high-density housing or near busy roads.

Resilient

Concrete retains its structural integrity in a flood, reducing disruption to homeowners, businesses and the community and minimising repair costs. This reduces waste of materials and downtime of homes, businesses and essential community services.

Recyclable

At the end of a long life, the concrete can be recycled thereby reducing environmental impact and preserving raw materials for future generations.

Local

Concrete and its raw materials – aggregates, cement and water are locally available, thereby reducing transport emissions and distances to the construction site, when compared to imported materials such as steel and timber. Concrete is a local business, creating local jobs and wages are pumped back into the local economy.

Concrete is built to last and concrete buildings can remain serviceable for hundreds of years.

Concrete is designated by the European Union as a Class A1 building material (non-combustible).

Concrete is 100% recyclable.

‘Fabric First with Concrete’ – The first step to maximise the buildings performance!