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Delivering Low-Carbon Concrete in Practice

This page brings together a suite of practical resources developed by the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA) to support the delivery of low‑carbon concrete in real‑world projects.

The resources draw directly on a council infrastructure project delivered on a live council asset and focus on how low-carbon concrete can be achieved using established materials, standard specifications and conventional construction practices — when projects are set up and coordinated well.

Project Background

This work was convened by MECLA and was delivered in collaboration with the City of Newcastle, with support from SmartCrete CRC.

The project built on earlier sector discussions hosted by MECLA, including a Concrete Carbon Nutcracker, which highlighted a consistent need for delivery‑focused examples that bridge the gap between policy intent, specification guidance and on‑site practice.

Rather than developing new requirements or trialling novel products, the project focused on making delivery visible — capturing how low‑carbon concrete can be organised, delivered and assured within existing frameworks.

About the Resources

The materials on this page are drawn directly from the project and are designed to support different stages of low‑carbon concrete delivery.

Documents
  • From Planning to Pour: Organising a Low‑Carbon Concrete Project – guidance on early project setup, internal alignment, supplier engagement and approvals.
  • Concrete Footpath Pouring in Practice: A Field Guide – a step‑by‑step guide to the on‑site stages of a concrete footpath pour, reflecting standard delivery practice.
  • Low‑Carbon Concrete Pour: Readiness and QA Checklist – supports readiness, quality assurance and record‑keeping before, during and after the pour.
Videos
  • A video showing planning and coordination before the pour, highlighting what needs to be in place before concrete arrives on site.
  • A video showing on‑site delivery in practice, demonstrating how low‑carbon concrete is placed, finished and cured using standard construction methods.

Resources

Access to the documents
Link to Video 1
Link to Video 2

Curley Road Case Study

The resources are based on a live project delivered on a City of Newcastle footpath at Curley Road, Broadmeadows (NSW).

To enable a clear, real‑world comparison, two concrete mixes were placed on the same asset:
  • a business‑as‑usual (BAU) concrete mix, and
  • a lower‑embodied‑carbon alternative.
 
Both mixes were specified to meet the same performance requirements and were placed, finished and cured using the same on‑site practices.
 
Embodied carbon performance was assessed using supplier Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), comparing the lower‑carbon mix against the supplier’s usual BAU reference mix. The supplier also provided written confirmation regarding end‑of‑life recyclability.
 
The lower‑carbon mix achieved an approximate 20-23% reduction in upfront embodied carbon for this project, while meeting normal strength, durability and workability requirements.
 
Key takeaway: when projects are set up, specified and verified properly, low‑carbon concrete can be delivered using the same on‑site practices as conventional concrete.

How to use the resources

The documents, videos and slides are designed to be used together, providing a clear and practical view of how low‑carbon concrete projects move from intent to delivery.

  • Planning – the planning video and From Planning to Pour guidance support early alignment, supplier engagement and decision‑making before the pour.
  • Delivery – the on‑site delivery video and Concrete Footpath Pouring in Practice: A Field Guide document what happens on site and reinforce standard practice.
  • Assurance – the Readiness and QA Checklist supports confidence, documentation and learning before, during and after the pour.
 
Used together, the resources support a coherent approach to planning → delivery → assurance.

They are intentionally non‑prescriptive, providing practical reference points that can be adapted across different project types and client contexts.

Event Recording and Slides

Event Recording

Event Slides

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all MECLA members for their contributions and support throughout the development of this report. Special acknowledgement is extended to the Concrete Working Group and the Local Councils Working Group for their valuable feedback and input during the preparation of the report.

The authors also gratefully acknowledge the support of City of Newcastle and SmartCrete CRC for providing funding for this work. 

Authors: Kathy Verheyen, Niki Jackson

Past Related MECLA Resources

Webinar

Webinar

Resource

Resource

Resource

Resource

What's Next

Insights from these resources, together with participant feedback and discussion captured during the event, will help inform MECLA’s consideration of future priorities and next steps, including potential follow-on initiatives and Working Group activities in this area.

The MECLA Local Councils Working Group is also inviting councils across Australia to complete a short survey on embodied carbon in buildings and infrastructure. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and will help shape future Working Group priorities by identifying current practices, key challenges, and emerging opportunities across local government. All responses will be treated confidentially and reported only in aggregate form.

Link to survey

If you are interested in contributing to this work, further information about MECLA membership and onboarding is available via the website.

Learn more about MECLA membership
Find out more about MECLA's upcoming events

Contact

For questions about the report or MECLA’s work in this area, please contact: info@mecla.org.au 

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