ConcreteZero, a global initiative led by Climate Group, has recently published its Specifications Guidance Report 2025, offering much-needed clarity and practical guidance on how to use the concrete specification process to significantly reduce embodied carbon in construction.
Concrete is responsible for around 8% of global carbon emissions. As companies increasingly pursue low-carbon concrete, the report positions specification as one of the most effective levers for change – enabling project teams to integrate lower-carbon solutions from the outset.
The Specifications Report 2025 outlines how developers, engineers, contractors and suppliers can collaborate to influence carbon outcomes through specification decisions. It offers practical advice, real-world case studies from ConcreteZero members, and clear information flows to help embed lower carbon concretes into construction practice.
Key highlights include:
- Guidance on setting and applying embodied carbon targets within specifications
- A breakdown of stakeholder roles across the value chain
- Tools for managing data, tracking progress and improving collaboration
- Case studies showing how lower carbon concrete is already being specified in practice
“This report gives the sector a clear roadmap for making better choices at the specification stage,” said Nia Bell, Senior Manager ConcreteZero at Climate Group. “It’s about enabling the industry to move faster by using processes already in place – and using them smarter.”
While designed with the UK market in mind, the report’s principles and approaches are relevant across global markets and can support a range of decarbonisation strategies.
Full report available here.
