The Government of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2024 targets a 30% reduction the embodied carbon of construction materials by 2030. As the largest buyer of concrete in Ireland, the public sector is the focus of a new report offering official guidance on reducing embodied carbon through public procurement.
Concrete accounts for up to 50% of materials-related emissions in construction in Ireland according to a study commissioned by the IGBC.
The potential for concentrating effort and innovation towards shaping policy in this area was recognised when the Government’s interdepartmental Cement and Construction Sector Decarbonisation Working Group issued a call for proposals from construction sector sustainability experts.
Answering the call
RKD’s Sustainability + Research team actively reviews and assesses the decarbonisation pathways of construction materials in an international as well as an Irish context. This aspect of our research is led by Dr. Richard O’Hegarty, who specialises in the decarbonisation of buildings and infrastructure.
As subject matter experts on concrete decarbonisation and procurement, RKD was appointed to a team led by global professional services firm RPS and complemented by economic experts EY.
Following a successful proposal and commission, our team worked collaboratively with support and input from numerous public and private sector stakeholders to create a comprehensive evidence-based report recommending 3 stages of implementation.
Our recommendations set out 4 key objectives:
- Using less concrete and less cement by designing, specifying, and managing products on site better.
- Specify lower carbon concrete.
- Specify lower carbon cement.
- Introduce broader Carbon Management systems for large infrastructure projects.
Documenting the approach
The 99-page document contains the RPS / EY / RKD team’s technical and procedural recommendations as to the suggested public procurement approach required to meaningfully reduce the carbon impact of public sector projects involving construction and the procurement of cement and concrete, while motivating the cement sector to invest in the production of decarbonised product.
The report was officially published by DETE in May 2024 and forms the basis for official guidance to public bodies when designing public projects, and procuring cement and concrete products, to ensure a consistent approach to reducing the embodied carbon in public construction projects.
At RKD, we are constantly seeking new opportunities to share our sustainability knowledge as a force for driving positive change. Reach out to our Sustainability + Research Sector Lead Sean Hogan to learn more.
Feature image photo by William Krause on Unsplash