Heidelberg Materials EcoCrete® low carbon concrete

Sustainable construction by up to 85% less CO2 emissions

Heidelberg Materials has developed its EcoCrete® range of low carbon concretes to make it easier to access low carbon concretes. EcoCrete® reduces the CO2 emissions associated with standard CEM I concrete by up to 85 per cent, helping contractors and clients meet their carbon reduction targets.

They contain Regen GGBS (ground granulated blastfurnace slag), a by-product of iron-making, as a replacement for some of the cement content in the concrete. Using GGBS reduces the embodied CO2 in a concrete mix by around 780kg for every tonne of CEM I Portland cement (PC) it replaces. Learn more about Heidelberg Materials Regen GGBS.

It also increases the long-term durability of structures, conserves natural resources for future generations as it does not require the quarrying of materials and prevents the slag being disposed of as landfill. 

There are three products in the range:

EcoCrete®: reduces CO2 by 30-64 per cent compared with CEM I concrete
EcoCrete® Extra: reduces CO2 by 65-79 per cent
EcoCrete® Elite: reduces CO2 by up to 85 per cent

    All products offer the high quality and reliability features associated with our ready-mixed concrete but with the benefit of significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Wherever possible we use recycled water to produce EcoCrete®, adding to its sustainability credentials.

    Watch a video about our low carbon concrete

    Benefits:

    • Reduces the carbon emissions associated with concrete from 30 to up to 85%
    • Easy to use and place
    • Suitable for use in all applications, including reinforced and unreinforced
    • Unchanged construction process
    • Complies with BS 8500 and BS EN 206-1
    • Creates concrete with a lighter, more aesthetically pleasing colour
    • 100% recyclable at end of life, contributing to the circular economy
    • Available nationwide from our network of static and mobile ready-mixed concrete plants

    The input values we use to calculate the CO2 emissions of a concrete mix are externally verified and we can use this data to support our customers with a kg/CO2/m³ indication for each mix. Where required, an indicative EPD* can be generated using lifecycle assessment tools aligned with the product category rules for Type III construction products to EN 15804. These detail the CO2 emissions for a concrete mix and provide further detail of where the CO2 emissions occur along the value chain.

    * Indicative EPDs are not externally verified

    Read more about why you should choose our sustainable concrete option.

    Bespoke low carbon concrete mixes 

    Our technical team is on hand to ensure you specify the right EcoCrete product to suit the requirements of your project. They can be contacted at telephone 0330 123 4535 or email concrete@uk.heidelbergmaterials.com.


    EcoCrete® in practice

    EcoCrete used for Buchanan Wharf project

    One of our customers Northern Steel Decking used EcoCrete® as part of the Buchanan Wharf project in Glasgow in which the Scottish government wanted to explore opportunities for a low carbon solution. Watch a video about the project

    Europe's largest Cemfree concrete pour

    Heidelberg Materials supplied Cemfree concrete in a continuous 10-hour pour as part of an Access for All scheme at Chatham Railway Station, Kent. It is the first time the product has been used on a Network Rail infrastructure project and is the largest Cemfree pour to date (May 2021). Read more about the project

    Residential development

    The Densgate Square development in Manchester has been constructed using 110,000m3 of in-situ concrete to create the walls, floors, foundations and columns and Heidelberg Materials technical team were involved in the early-stage design discussions with the contractor and design engineers regarding the bespoke suite of concrete mixes required. Go to the case study 

    Sea defences

    Heidelberg Materials supplied a range of complex concrete mixes to BAM Nuttall to deliver vital coastal protection works at Marine Parade, Dawlish, Devon. Read more about this project.

    BREEAM ‘excellent’ environment performance rating achieved for 20 Fenchurch Street, the Walkie Talkie

    This building was designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ environment performance rating. The use of EcoPlus concrete played a big part in helping achieve this through the correct selection of its constituent parts. Read the full case study where Heidelberg Materials bespoke Ecoplus concrete mix was used.


    Contact Details

    Accreditations

    Heidelberg Materials is a member of the Quality Scheme for Ready-mixed Concrete (QSRMC) and all our products carry this certification.

    Downloads

    Decarbonise your construction projects with low carbon concrete

    View our latest online Let's Talk Sustainability webinar to find out how you can reduce the carbon emissions associated with your construction projects by specifying low carbon concrete.

    The free webinar is aimed at everyone involved in the construction sector. It includes what we are doing to decarbonise cement to enable us to produce net zero carbon concrete in the future as well as what low carbon concrete products are available right now to help reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects.

    View webinar

    Concrete volume calculator

    Use our ready-mixed concrete calculator to select the best concrete for your project and work out the volume you require.

    Concrete volume calculator