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BSI publishes lower-carbon concrete guidance
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
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The British Standards Institution (BSI) has issued new guidance to help construction use sustainable alternatives to Portland cement-based concrete.
BSI Flex 350 Version 2 recommends, and demonstrates the potential of, alternative binder systems (ABS) that can be used to produce lower-carbon concrete.
These binder alternatives include geopolymer or alkali-activated materials.
This latest BSI Flex recommends a framework for assessing ABS concretes to facilitate their acceptance as suitable alternatives to the commonly-used Portland cement-based concrete when designing and building structures.
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Although the guidance is aimed at applications within the UK, BSI says it can also be used by other countries when using ABS concrete.
Supporting the transition to net zero
The UK consumes 11.7m tonnes of Portland cement per year, according to the European Ready Mixed Concrete Organization. This results in the emission of millions of tonnes of CO2, accounting for nearly 90% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with concrete production.
BSI says ABS can be used to significantly reduce the emissions from the concrete binder compared with Portland cement, while continuing to provide the many benefits of concrete construction.
Clare Price, sector lead of built environment at BSI, said: “The built environment has a huge role to play in supporting the transition to net zero. This guidance is designed to empower engineers to make more sustainable choices to reduce carbon emissions in construction projects, while giving all involved the confidence in the suitability of chosen materials.”
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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