Collaborating to accelerate concrete decarbonisation with ACDG
We’re members of an industry-wide initiative focused on unlocking the potential of low-carbon concrete solutions
System thinking and collaboration are key to driving change, which is why we are members of the Accelerating Concrete Decarbonisation Group (ACDG).
Launched in March, ACDG is an industry-wide initiative focused on bridging the gap between low‑carbon concrete supply, specification needs and market demand. Led by Derwent London, we are among a group of more than 35 collaborators, including developers, engineers and carbon specialists.
Working closely with established concrete industry groups and suppliers, the ACDG is driving collaboration to unlock the enormous potential of low‑carbon concrete solutions.
Here’s what we're doing:
Concrete remains widely used across the built environment, yet it is a major source of embodied carbon. Taking responsibility for the carbon impacts of concrete is an essential, industry-wide challenge and opportunity, which is why the ACDG was established.
ACDG's aims:
- To reduce barriers to adopting low-carbon concrete by sharing knowledge and conducting prototype testing
- Provide robust test data so engineers and clients can specify low-carbon concrete reducing technical or cost risk
- Accelerate market adoption by circulating information about available low-carbon concrete and emerging suppliers across the sector.
The ACDG is the latest cross-industry initiative our team is part of, which is committed to breaking down silos between projects, design teams and regions.
Last year, we joined forces with five other UK engineering firms to spearhead the launch of The Engineers Reuse Collective (tERC), a not-for-profit group committed to accelerating reuse in the built environment to support the transition of the UK’s construction industry to Net Zero Carbon.
The first of its kind, the group convened due to growing concern about the climate crisis and the collective responsibility that engineers have, to reduce carbon in the industry through reuse.
In its first year alone, tERC has grown phenomenally, and we are now a 50+ strong collaborative community of engineers and specialist all working together to accelerate reuse.
We have collectively created a forum where knowledge is shared openly, challenges tackled collaboratively, and teams feel supported to try new approaches on their projects, and we look forward to continuing that approach with ACDG.
Gareth Atkinson, director and head of our London studio at Civic, said: “The industry is coming together, from developers, contractors and engineers to lower our carbon footprint. Concrete is an amazing product and underpins so much development, but it is also one of the largest contributors to carbon production in the built environment. It hasn't evolved to rely less on carbon intensive manufacturing, but crucially there is now both the awareness of how it relates to climate change, and the opportunity to change that.
“By working together across the UK and learning from successful approaches in Europe and internationally, we can show that lower-carbon concrete is both practical and achievable.
“One of the many innovations the group is looking at is the material mix of concrete such as the cement binding it all together, and the possibilities of using replacement materials such as clay or low-carbon cement technology to decarbonise it - and what would need to happen for new solutions to be adopted on a mass scale. It’s just one example of the trailblazing work by the ACDG, and how we are collaborating to help drive lasting change.”
Since ACDG launched in early March, three ACDG low-carbon concrete prototypes were delivered and completed within the month. The group, including Harriet Browning, senior associate and sustainability lead at Civic, visited Kilnbridge for a workshop to see the prototypes in person, alongside hearing updates on the construction process and ongoing testing.
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